Employees at the Wolqite FM 89.2 radio station, part of the Southern Radio and Television Organization, have officially halted operations to protest the non-payment of mandated salary adjustments. The strike, which has silenced the station's broadcasts in five languages, follows months of unfulfilled promises from regional authorities.
According to staff members who spoke to Tikvah Ethiopia, the federal government authorized a cost-of-living salary adjustment for public servants effective from September 2025. While employees at the Wolqite branch received official notification of the adjustment in December 2025, the promised payments were never disbursed. Over 80 staff members are affected by this delay.
"We have been working diligently for seven months, hoping the adjustment would be paid," one staff member stated. Despite receiving a formal letter in December promising that the payment would be made "soon," workers say they have received nothing but verbal assurances. The employees escalated their grievances to the zonal and Central Ethiopia regional authorities but report that their concerns were ignored.
One employee, who supports a family of 12, expressed the dire impact of the situation: "The salary adjustment, intended to help us cope with the rising cost of living, has not been paid. I am no longer able to provide for my family."
Tikvah Ethiopia attempted to reach the station manager and the head of the Central Ethiopia Regional President's office for comment. The station manager's phone was unreachable, and the regional official did not respond to multiple calls. However, local residents in Wolqite have confirmed that the station has ceased all broadcasting activities.
Source: Telegram / tikvahethiopia