Union Leaders Sacked in Liberia

IN February 2014, twenty-two union leaders across Liberia were fired without any hearing by the Health Minister following a nationwide strike against poor working conditions in the health sector. Twenty were later reinstated -- but not Joseph S. Tamba and George Poe Williams, respectively President and General Secretary of the National Health Workers' Association of Liberia.
The strike followed repeated attempts to seek change through negotiations and dialogue which the government rebuffed. These deplorable working conditions had fatal consequences: the lack of protective equipment, long working hours and the lack of medication in the fight against Ebola caused hundreds of deaths amongst health workers.

To date, it remains illegal in Liberia for public service workers to organise and form or join a union that represents them although the country has ratified ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

We have just launched a campaign together with Public Services International, the International Transport Workers Federation and ITUC Africa to send messages to the Liberian government demanding the reinstatement of the dismissed workers, the recognition of the right to organize for public service workers and respect for trade union rights.

Please take a moment to support the campaign:

http://www.labourstart.org/go/liberia

And please share this message with your friends, family and fellow union members.

Thank you!

Eric Lee