Federal Poly Workers To Begin Strike Sept 1

Workers at the Federal Polytechnic Ekeowe, Bayelsa State, have
threatened to begin a warning strike on September 1, 2014, over
non-release of their outstanding promotions and arrears.

They said on Wednesday that they had communicated their strike notice
to the institution's management.

The unions, comprising Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Senior
Staff Association in Nigeria Polytechnic and Non-Academic Staff Union
said staff promotion had been withheld since 2013.

The decision to go on the warning strike was taken after an emergency
meeting by the unions.

The communique issued after the meeting was signed by representatives
of the three unions.

The unions regretted that five weeks after the suspension of
nationwide strike by polytechnic teachers, effort had not been made to
make the institution conducive for teaching and learning.

The communique was signed by the Chairman of ASUP, Mr. Afolabi Taiwo,
Chairman SSANIP, Mr. Endurance Keyamo, and Chairman NASU, Mr. Nelson
Ebimie.

The unions were dismayed that the institution had never benefitted
from the intervention funds for training and capacity development
since the inception of the polytechnic.

They observed that the governing council of the institution was
breaching the Polytechnic Act by interfering with the running of the
institution.

They, therefore, advised the council to allow the polytechnic
management to do its job.

The workers resolved that if the pending staff promotion before the
governing council was not approved on or before August 31, they would
commence strike on September 1, 2014.

They urged the minister of education and other well-meaning Nigerians
to prevail on the polytechnic authorities to avert the impending
strike by releasing the outstanding promotion.ASUP Chairman at the
Polytechnic, Mr. Afolabi Taiwo, said in Yenagoa on Wednesday that the
the decision to go on warning strike was taken at the end of an
emergency meeting of the joint unions on Tuesday.

Taiwo noted that the refusal of the governing council of the
polytechnic to approve the backlog of promotion had dampened staff
morale.

An official of the institution at the Rector's office, who craved
anonymity, said that the rector was not available for comments.

However, he confirmed receiving two copies of the communiqué for the
Rector and the Governing Council.