Liberian Health Workers to begin strike on Monday, October 13

The Liberian Health Workers Association has called about 15,000 members to begin strike on Monday, October 13 because their demands (hazard pay, benefits and safe working conditions) are not yet met, according to the union’s secretary general, George Williams.

“What we take home is insufficient for the kind of risk and the kind of jobs we do.  That we have told our government from time immemorial.  Nobody seems to listen to this,” he said.

The union is demanding monthly salaries ranging from $500 to $1,500 depending on the jobs being performed in Ebola treatment units.

The government said it couldn't pay that much.

Liberia and Sierra Leone are the two countries hardest hit by the Ebola epidemic.

The WHO country representative to Liberia, Dr. Peter Graaff, called on the union to hold off on the “go slow” as the strike was called locally.

 “This is not the moment to compromise all you have achieved and all your dedication by going slow.  Going slow means that the quality of the services is compromised.  Going slow means that those who still want to work and want to work hard have to work perhaps too hard and they are going to put themselves at risk.  And going slow means putting the lives of those you care for unnecessarily at risk,” he said.

He said the union’s grievances were “a legitimate issue for discussion” and said the government was working on a solution.