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Barring any last-minute intervention, members of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees (AUPCTRE), Oyo State Water Corporation chapter, will commence an indefinite strike, following the expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum given to the Oyo State Government over outstanding deductions, shortage of workers and other issues.
The union, had on January 20, 2021 written a letter to Governor Seyi Makinde through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.
In the letter signed by the state secretary of AUPCTRE, Comrade Ibrahim Mohammed, the union demanded for prompt payment of outstanding deductions, safety of lives and property, increment in monthly subvention, supply of chemicals to the corporation, recruitment of workers and appointment of substantive General Manager for the organisation.
The letter read in part: “I bring to Your Excellency fraternal greetings from the state leadership of the above named union and to inform Your Excellency that after a series of meetings with the management of Water Corporation and Government representatives without finding lasting solutions to our demands, the union is left with no other option than to issue this letter on the above subject matter.
“The union’s demands include:
1. Payment of outstanding deductions, that is, Cooperative deductions, check-up bonus, leave bonus, car loan deductions, housing loan deduction and so on.
2. Safety of lives and property of Water Corporation.
3. Increment in montly subvention.
4. Availability of chemicals so that potable water can be available to the good people of Oyo State and its environs.
5. Recruitment of more workers for the and 6. Appointment of substantive General Manager.
“Consequently, with this situation in the corporation, the tension is building up among the workers which may affect the current smooth industrial relation in the Corporation and in the state.
“Finally, the union is by this letter therefore urging Your Excellency to intervene quickly to find lasting solution to our demands within 72 hours to avoid negative occurrence in the union management relations.
“Thanks for your anticipated result-oriented response.”
Mohammed, however, told journalists on Friday that with the expiration of the ultimatum, the workers are ready to embark on strike, insisting that the state government must pay all the arrears.