Medical laboratory professionals to lay down tools from June 17

The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) has declared a nationwide strike, effective June 17, 2024, over the poor conditions of service of its members.

MELPWU, in a statement on June 3, 2024, cited undue delays in concluding its negotiations with the National Labour Commission and a lack of financial clearance for non-mechanised members as reasons for their action.

The union noted that for two years, they have been negotiating with authorities over their conditions of service, but to no success.

“Without prejudice to the directives given by the National Labour Commission on May 30, 2024, we recognise that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Ministry of Finance are deliberately frustrating the efforts of a rather peaceful union that is ensuring that the labour-management relationship does not suffer.”

“To prevent a rather explosive situation that cannot be easily managed by the union, the National Executive Council, at an emergency meeting, approved the demands of membership to proceed with a full-blown industrial strike action effective Monday, June 17, 2024, to enable them to press home the needed attention and importance to be given to the concerns of the union, the statement said.

According to the union, services offered by their members in medical laboratories, blood banks, pathology laboratories, and selected mortuary facilities will be affected by the strike.