The negotiation between the leadership of the Osun State judiciary and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria will continue on Friday as the JUSUN leadership insisted that all its demands be met before members return to their duty posts.
Courts in the state had been shut since last week Wednesday following an indefinite strike called by the JUSUN executives after they were dispersed with teargas by the police.
The protesting JUSUN leaders after observing that the state Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, had entered the court premises, had made an attempt to move towards where the judge’s vehicle was parked, making the police to force them back with teargas.
The workers had picketed the state high court in protest against the CJ’s alleged high-handedness, indiscriminate suspension of workers and non-payment of wardrobe allowances.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the national leadership of JUSUN on Wednesday met with the Chief Registrar of the high court, Mr. Isola Omisade, and a representative of the Chief Judge in a bid to resolve disagreement that led to picketing and the eventual industrial action by the workers.
Briefing our correspondent on the outcome of the meetings on Thursday, the Osun JUSUN Chairman, Gbenga Eludire, said a committee put in place by the Conference of Judges would meet the leadership of the union on Friday on the high court premises to continue negotiation on the demands of the workers.
He further said, “The national leadership aligned with all our demands as long as the demands are meant to uplift the well-being of our members. The national leadership of JUSUN has taken over the struggle.
“They maintained that the current status quo should remain. We have agreed that a committee set up by the Conference of Judges in the state to have a dialogue with JUSUN should commence their work by meeting the executives of the union in the state and discussing how to meet the demands placed before the judiciary.
“The union insisted that the strike would not be called off until all demands are met. Our meeting with the committee set up by the Conference of Judges has been slated for Friday on the High Court premises in Osogbo. We expect something concrete will come up after the meeting.”
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