Amidst their ongoing strike, members of the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union (MELPWU) have expressed grave concerns about the treatment of their colleagues around the country.

The union’s general secretary, Dr. Cephas Akotor, claims that during the strike, hospital officials have seriously intimidated a number of members.

According to Dr. Akotor, some union members have been threatened just for standing up and asking for improved working conditions.

He clarified that the purpose of the union’s walkout is to express opposition to the poor working conditions that medical laboratory technicians must put up with.

Dr. Akotor made an impassioned plea for an immediate end to these harassing behaviors. He emphasized how crucial it is for administrators, human resources staff, and hospital directors to take a helpful rather than hostile attitude.

“I want to use the opportunity to also talk to our directors, HRs and administrators at the various hospitals that we work with, and we are their employees. If we have difficulties, they should be speaking for us, not [when] we go on the rampage before they know we have concerns.

“The intimidation happening in the various hospitals should stop. People are threatening that they will not validate people’s salaries, taking people’s positions from them as heads of departments, asking our members to vacate their accommodations and all that. I think that we haven’t gotten to that stage.”