Cross State workers, yesterday, began a two-day warning strike over the failure of the state government to come to an agreement with the state’s Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on the minimum wage despite the government’s plea.

Some of the workers, who reported for duty at the secretariat complex, met their offices under lock and key with police on guard to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

The workers accused the state government of delay tactics in implementing the minimum wage when other states had since commenced payment, saying: “We are aware that most states have either commenced payment or have reached an agreement with the organised labour for the implementation of the new wage, but surprised that our government is still dragging its foot on the matter.

They warned that the warning strike would be followed by a total strike if the government fails to do the needful before December 1, 2024.

RELATEDLY, the organised Labour in Bayelsa State and the state government have finally reached a truce in the dispute that followed the N80,000 minimum wage adopted by the government for the workers.

In a statement issued at the end of the meeting of the organised labour with the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the leadership of the NLC, TUC and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) urged the workers to remain calm and resolute as a committee is reviewing the template to come up with more acceptable figures.

The statement stated that the organised labour leaders had agreed that the proposed payment for November 2024 salary should go on and the differentials on workers’ salaries would be implemented in December 2024.

It was also agreed that the new template to be used from December 2024 would be duly signed by the government and organised labour.