BY ENYIM ENYIM

ONITSHA – The health workers union in Anambra State, yesterday, threatened not to resume work unless the state government signed an agreement with it on payment of a new salary structure.

Workers of the union had been on strike for five months now over non-implementation of a new salary structure by the government.

Chairman of the union, Mr. Patrick Obianyo, told Vanguard that since the industrial dispute, the government had refused to negotiate with them on how to resolve the matter.

He said: ”This particular strike was avoidable but we were drawn into it because the state government did not want to see us and negotiate with us. The state government is insincere on this matter.”

Obianyo said government met with the union on June 29 and the union accepted the 40 per cent  of the new salary being demanded, adding that the government reneged on its offer by not signing the agreement drawn up on July 1, 2011.

Meanwhile, Anambra State House of Assembly has set up a seven-man ad hoc committee to intervene and mediate on the strike.

The resolve by the lawmakers to intervene in the matter followed a motion by Chief Tony Uche of Idemili South and eight others.