Union divided over planned nation-wide strike

Four unions have walked out of a group of 10 who are planning to stage a nation-wide strike beginning Monday July 28.

The reasons for their withdrawal are not yet known, but speculations by critics remain high that the runaway syndicate leaders may be sell outs.

In the meantime, members of the General Union of Workers of Cameroon, better known in French as Union Générale des Travailleurs du Cameroun (UGTC), last Saturday vowed to embark on the nation-wide strike, should the government fail to meet demands.

According to the UGTC president, Isaac Bissala, the government is supposed to meet certain demands which they tabled shortly after the fuel price increase; else they will stage a nationwide industrial action.

Bissala further disclosed that they will hold a grand meeting on July 26 and embark on public demonstrations. If nothing is done at the initial stage, Bissala added, they will intensify an indefinite strike action during all working days.

“The government should not under-estimate us. We have the capacity to do massive mobilisation”, the SGTC president threatened. The union of workers are principally concerned with the measures taken so far by the government to mitigate the effects of the recent increase in fuel prices.

Going by their complaint, the trade unionists are demanding the harmonisation of retirement age, tax exemption on separation bonuses, payment of ex-employers of CPPC and the integration of certificate holders in the Memve’ele projects amongst others.