Strike action:

OIC workers down tools, demand seven months of salary arrears

By Boris Esono in Buea

Some workers of the Cameroon Opportunities and Industrialization Centre-COIC, Buea, last December 20 stormed the premises of the NGO demanding seven months of unpaid salaries owed them. 

                The striking workers also indicted the current management of the institution for incompetence and inhumane treatment of its personnel.

                Striking workers carried placards with messages such as “Treat OIC workers as human beings, not as slaves or military men and women”; “Ttop insulting female staff, women should be respected”; “No to employment of friends and relatives”; “Include technicians in management positions” etc.

                According to staff representative, Martin Ephanga Ndive, the striking workers could no longer condone the ill-will of management that has not shown any remorse despite being unable to pay workers’ salaries for up to seven months.

                “There have been a series of meetings between management and the workers. But what angered us today was the manner in which the board chair spoke to us. He said there is just one month salary and if the workers do not want to take it they should leave it”.

                The Delegate of Employment and Vocational Training for the Southwest, John Igondoh Atosoh, who came to the scene, asked the workers to stay calm down, promising to look into the problem.

                The board chair Moses Ekeke Njuma, who spoke to The Median denied the allegations of misappropriation of funds, usurpation of power and unfair treatment.

                “These are mere allegations but the records are there for everyone to see. The workers are not the ones to appreciate the management of the new team. We have asked them to be patient and we are working hard to see to it that their salaries are paid,” Ekeke said, explaining that his team inherited a deficit of about FCFA 500 million resulting from massive embezzlement that had been going on in the institution.

                The workers have vowed to continue their strike action until their salary arrears are paid.