BY RALPH EJIMKONYE
Details emerged on Monday how the lingering feud between Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma and organized labour in the State, resolved a bitter rift which had paralyzed the state workforce in the past one month.
Organized Labour in the State had ordered a strike, insisting that the Uzodimma administration, despite claims of paying workers had not captured thousands of workers and pensioners in the State on its monthly payment module.
This set the stage for fierce altercations between the State government and labour.
The State NLC headquarters, Owerri was also attacked and officials of the Labour reportedly harassed.
A splinter labour leadership in the State led by Mr. Uchehara whose loyalty was to the Government, also suddenly emerged.
However, a fresh round of talks between the State government and labour leaders commenced after the national leadership of the NLC stormed Owerri, Imo State capital.
Ayuba Wabba, national President of the NLC, had before the visit of national labour leaders to Owerri, said the action of the state government was unacceptable to labour.
This newspaper observed that after Labour leaders met with officials of the state government, some key decisions were reached which led to the suspension of the strike.
Some of the key decisions reached at the meeting include:
*Immediate clearance of the outstanding salary arrears and underpayments.
*A Committee of the Organized Labour set-up to work with the complaint forms submitted by affected Workers with a view to effecting the payments immediately.
*Approval of the implementation of the new 30,000 minimum wage.
The State government and Labour disowned illegal Caretaker Committee Chairman imposed on the NLC and reaffirmed their confidence on the leadership of NLC led by Comrade. Austin Chilakpu.
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