Poorly paid, the staff of the National Assembly began a closed strike on Tuesday to force their administration to meet their long-ignored specifications, while demanding immediate payment of their back-to-school bonus.
Instead of being in the offices, they set up a picket at the main entrance to the Léon Mba palace. They sit quietly observing the comings and goings of the deputies who have all “ their privileges ”, according to them.
Immediately, the strikers are demanding payment of the back-to-school bonus for their children. And in the medium term, they are demanding an increase in their salaries because many have been paid the minimum wage for years.
Their anger rises to a crescendo when they discover that the staff recruited after the coup are better paid even though they have been pulling the devil by the tail for years.
« The goods made in the transition have not yet arrived with us “, they shouted in front of a reporter from Gabonactu.com. One of them claimed that he received 150,000 FCFA in salary for 22 years of service.
« Oligui Nguema must know that we are mistreated “, shouted another.
As soon as they came to power, the military capped the salary of transition deputies at 1 million FCFA whereas previously the deputy received up to 2.5 million FCFA per month without counting bonuses and other sessional allowances.
Antoine Relaxe
2024-10-09 22:51:00
#Strike #National #Assembly
Analysis: National Assembly Staff Strike for Better Pay and Benefits
In a recent turn of events, the staff of the National Assembly in Gabon embarked on a closed strike on Tuesday, demanding improved pay and the immediate payment of their back-to-school bonus. The strike highlights the long-standing concerns of the staff regarding their compensation and benefits, which have been largely ignored by the administration.
The strike action began with the staff setting up a picket at the main entrance to the Léon Mba palace, where they quietly observed the comings and goings of the deputies. The staff seemed to be drawing a contrast between their own struggles and the privileges enjoyed by the deputies.
This strike bears some resemblance to another strike that was planned earlier in June 2024, involving the organized labour, over issues with the minimum wage. In that instance, a mediation meeting facilitated by the National Assembly between the Federal Government and Organized Labour initially seemed to have yielded a positive outcome [[2]]. However, subsequent reports indicated that the strike would go on as planned due to the government’s refusal to meet the demands [[1]]. In another development, some workers blocked the National Assembly’s entrance as a show of solidarity [[3]].
While the early June strike appears to have targeted the government’s minimum wage policy, the recent strike by National Assembly staff specifically targets the administration’s handling of staff compensation and benefits. The back-to-school bonus, a pressing concern for many staff members, has been a contentious issue.
It is pertinent to note that this strike action reflects a broader issue with compensation and benefits for public sector employees. The contrast drawn by the staff between their own struggles and the privileges enjoyed by the deputies suggests a sense of disillusionment and unfairness. As such, this strike serves as a call to action for the administration to address these concerns and ensure fair compensation and benefits for all employees.
the strike by National Assembly staff is a stark reminder of the need for fair compensation and benefits for all employees. As we watch the developments of this strike, it is crucial to keep in mind the broader implications of this action and the potential for positive change in the public sector.
