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The Joint Committee
of Non-Academic Staff Union and the Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnics of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, have vowed to continue
with their strike until the state government accede to their demands.

The unions’ vow is
coming despite the death of three of their leaders in an auto crash on
October 5. The workers had embarked on an indefinite strike about three
months ago, demanding for the implementation of the 53.37 percent
salary increase (CONTEDISS) for staff of the institution. Three union
leaders of the institution died while returning from Akure, where they
had gone to negotiate with the state government over the new pay rise.

The Chairman of
Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Rufus Giwa branch, Olabamiji
Kumuyi, who spoke with reporters on behalf of other unions at the end
of the seven-day mourning organized for the late union leaders,
expressed dismay at what he called “nonchalant attitude” of the state
government towards the implementation of 53.37 percent salary increase.
He said their counterparts at the Adekunle Ajasin University were
enjoying the full payment of the new wages since April, while the
polytechnic workers have not been answered.

Honour to the dead

At the prayer
session in honour of their deceased colleagues, which was attended by
1,500 staffers of the institution, the workers also agreed to declare
every 5th of October as public holiday in the institution to remember
the dead union leaders. “We have agreed to make every 5th of October as
a public holiday in the institution,” said Mr Kumuyi. “The day is set
aside to remember the union leaders who laid down their lives for the
institution.”

The union leader called for the immortalization of the union leaders
to serve as a way of encouragement for others and ensure that they
remain in the memories of workers and students of the institution. He
added that some buildings in the institution would be named after the
dead union leaders, adding that the various unions in the school would
not allow the families of the deceased to suffer.