COEASU suspends strike

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union has suspended its eight-month strike in principle, following the intervention of the Chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Colleges of Education.

The union said it agreed to persuasions from the governing councils to suspend the industrial action, following assurances that the outstanding issues would be resolved.

The union had embarked on the strike action on December 18,2013, but the suspension is expected to be upheld on Thursday when the Minister of Education would meet with officials of the union.

The Chairman of the Committee of Council Chairmen of the Federal Colleges of Educations, Senator Emmanuel Anosike, who read the resolutions reached at the end of a five-hour meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, noted that the union agreed that the government had met a reasonable number of its demands.

“The union has agreed to suspend its strike in principle subject to the following: that there would be no victimisation of its members and salaries withheld would be paid,” he said.

The resolutions also noted that the circular for the migration of lower cadre staff in the COEs would be released immediately, while a technical committee would be set up to look into other issues.

The meeting was convened at the instance of the Chairmen of Governing Councils of COEs. The Committee of Provosts would brainstorm on the way forward to ensure the strike is called off this week.

The meeting had in attendance officials of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, COEASU and Non-Academic Staff Union executive members.

Anosike had earlier assured the unions that the chairmen, as politicians, would use their clout to ensure that the government implemented the resolutions reached at the parley. He added that the migration circular, which had been signed by President Jonathan, would be issued to the COEs immediately.

He said, “It took us time to hold meetings together as Council Chairmen to ensure that the unions would get their demands. We cannot be here if we have not been given the assurances that you would get what you want.”

source: http://www.punchng.com/news/coeasu-suspends-strike/

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