Tag: strike

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NEWS & LIFE

Minimum wage: Osun to join nationwide strike

Ekiti organised labour rejects withdrawal of minimum wage
Minimum wage

Workers in Osun say they will join the nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) if the Federal Government and labour failed to reach agreement on consequential adjustment on the wage increase.

Mr Jacob Adekomi, the Chairman of the state chapter of the NLC made this disclosure on Monday.

Adekomi said he had received the directive on the proposed strike by the national headquarters of the congress and that the directive would be followed to the letter.

The NLC General Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, had in a circular, directed the state councils of the congress to mobilise members for the strike in case the negotiations between government and the union slated for Tuesday, breaks down.

Adekomi, however, said it was unfortunate that labour had to resort to strike before workers’ demand for welfare would be looked into.

Independence: Time to reassert our relevance, leadership- NLC, TUC
NLC,

“It is quite unfortunate in this country that you do not get your right easily.

“The language employers of labour understand is agitation, which is quite unfortunate.

“It is about precedent now, if you want to get your right here, you have to do the unthinkable.

“It is the unthinkable language that they do understand,” he said.

Adekomi, however, expressed the hope that the issue of consequential adjustment on the minimum wage implementation would be resolved between now and Tuesday.

“It is not about the issue of strike. It is about getting our demands. Nobody is interested in strike but what we are saying is give us what is due to us’’.

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NEWS & LIFE

Minimum Wage: NLC tells state councils to prepare for strike

NLC urges Imo to pay 3 months salary arrears to workers, pensioners
NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its state councils to prepare for strike on Oct. 16 if negotiation breaks down again with Federal Government.

In a circular sent to state councils, signed by its General Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC said this was a notice in case the proposed negotiations slated for Oct. 15 with the Federal Government broke down.

“You will recall that a joint Communiqué was issued by the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Committee (JNPSNC) stating that two weeks from the date of the said communiqué, industrial harmony could not be guaranteed in the country should an agreement not be reached with the Federal Government on the Consequential Adjustment of Salaries as a result of the New National Minimum Wage of N30,000.

NLC

“You are hereby directed to coordinate preparations with TUC and JNPSNC in your States for necessary industrial action should the time expire without an agreement as contained in the circular.’’

News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the organised labour demanded 29 per cent salary increase for officers on salary level 07 to 14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on salary grade level 15 to 17.

The Federal Government had, however, presented a proposal of 11 per cent salary increase for officers on grade level 07 to14 and 6.5 per cent adjustment for workers of grade level 15 to 17.

NAN reports that implementation of the new wage has remained a problem, arising from the issue of relativity and consequential adjustments.

On May 14, the Federal Government inaugurated the relativity and consequential adjustment committee, which in turn set up a technical sub-committee to work out a template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.

However, government and labour have failed to reach an agreement over relativity and consequential adjustments for the implementation of the new minimum wage more than six months after it was signed into law.

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NEWS & LIFE

Polytechnic lecturers give FG 21 days strike notice

Polytechnic lecturers give FG 21 days strike notice
Polytechnic lecturers give FG 21 days strike notice

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has threatened to withdraw their services after 21 days if the Federal Government fails to address some issues bedeviling the polytechnic education system in Nigeria.

ASUP issued the ultimatum during its National Executive Council meeting at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra on Thursday.

The resolution was entitled “Renewed Threats to the Survival of Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: The Position of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics”.

The National President of the union, Mr Usmam Dutse, said the polytechnic system which had the mandate to provide training and research services for the nation’s ailing economy should not be allowed to die.

Dutse said some of their grouse included attempts to forcefully entitle ASUP members into the Integrated Personnel Payroll System, non-implementation of the Federal Polytechnic Act 2019 amendment and confined victimisation of union officers.

Polytechnic lecturers give FG 21 days strike notice
strike notice

The national president said that 49 chapters of the union attended the NEC meeting out of the 52 chapters in the country.

He said others were ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement, renewed efforts at objectionable insertions in the review process of the scheme of services for polytechnics and violations in the implementation of the 2017 MoU signed with the government.

“Our union has reviewed the above situation as well as the refusal of government to respond to several correspondences on the issues captured above, we resolve to rise up to the occasion once again in defensc of the sector.

“The unions NEC is hereby issuing a 21-day ultimatum to the government to address the issues listed satisfactorily or risk the indefinite withdrawal of services by our members nationwide.

“As a follow up to this, all organs and chapters of our union are to begin mobilisation for engagement as we pursue this onerous task of rescuing the sector from imminent collapse,” he said.

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INTERNATIONAL

Indian state sacks 48,000 transport workers over strike

India’s southern state of Telangana has sacked over 48,000 employees and workers for the regional transport department over an indefinite strike, officials and news reports said on Monday.

The striking workers of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation had refused to end their two-day protest by the government deadline on Saturday, after which authorities announced the decision late on Sunday.

State chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao ruled out any negotiations with the striking workers to reinstate them and had made fresh recruitments.

“It is an unpardonable crime that they went on a strike during the festive season and at a time when the road corporation is incurring huge losses and an increasing debt burden,’’ Rao said, according to broadcaster NDTV.

In recent days, millions of Indians are returning home to visit relatives and celebrate the Hindu festival of Dussehra, which falls on Tuesday.

Senior state official K Ramakrishna Rao confirmed that authorities had taken action by invoking provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), which rendered the strike illegal.

“Under ESMA provisions, if the conduct of employees is illegal, they are liable for dismissal from service,’’ he said.

Around 50,000 workers had gone on strike on Friday with 26 demands including releasing dues and a merger of the corporation of with the government. Over 1,200 had not joined the strike.

This is not the first time authorities in India have resorted to mass sackings.

In 2003, Jayaram Jayalalithaa, then chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, dismissed over 170,000 striking state employees and teachers, although they were reinstated later.

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PHENOMENAL LAGOS

LASPOTECH workers suspend 6-month-old strike

LASPOTECH
-LASPOTECH

The non-teaching staff of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, on Thursday suspended its six-month-old strike following a decision by the union’s congress.

Mr Abiodun Awoyemi, the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP) LASPOTECH Chapter, confirmed the development.

Awoyemi said that the decision by the congress was sequel to the intervention of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“ SSANIP and the Non-academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (NASUP) LASPOTECH Chapter resolved at a joint congress on Wednesday July 17, to suspend the six-month-old strike.

“The decision is in response to the governor’s gesture of setting up a visitation panel to look into the long-standing crises,” he said.

According to Awoyemi, the governor has also directed that the four staff members that were disengaged during the union’s struggle should submit an appeal letter to the Polytechnic’s Governing Council.

He said the letter should be routed through the Head of Service with a view to re-engaging them.

Awoyemi said the joint congress of the union also resolved that no member should sign any attendance register upon resumption of work.

He said that this decision was against the management’s directive of last Monday that it would open a register for resuming staff to sign.

“The strike was officially suspended on Wednesday, July 17, and the staff was expected to resume work on Thursday, July 18,” he said.

The chairman said that the visitation panel was also expected to look into the issue of the arrested and arraigned 38 members of the union.

He said that it was also to look into other issues and resolve them.

Also, the Polytechnic’s spokesman, Mr Olanrewaju Kuye, confirmed to NAN that the unions had suspended its strike.

Kuye lauded Gov. Sanwo-Olu for wading into the matter.

He also said that Gov. Sanwo-Olu directed the sacked workers to write a letter of appeal for a review of their disengagement within the next seven days.

He said that the governor, however, warned the any aggrieved staff to desist from fomenting trouble, saying his administration would not hesitate to discipline any erring worker.

Kuye said the Polytechnic’s administrative block where the offices of the Rector and other management staff were located had been reopened.

He said that it was shut while the strike lasted.

“I resumed work since Monday following the governor’s intervention.

“We have ensured a thorough cleaning and fumigation of all the offices having been shut for almost six months.

“This was to prevent any worker from being attacked by any harmful animal or contacting any ailments,” he said.

NAN reports that the non-academic staff of the Polytechnic had since January 21 embarked on an industrial action over alleged wrong implementation of the Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure (CONTISS) 15 migration.

Also, they listed poor welfare conditions, harassment of both workers and students, as some of their grievances.

The development led to several protests and agitations by the staff and the student unions, which resulted in the disengagement from service of four staff.

Also, the police had, at about 1:30 a.m., on Thursday, July11, allegedly arrested 38 members of the union who were on a sit-out protest on the campus.

They were charged to the Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court and were remanded in prison before they could meet their bail conditions the following week’s Tuesday.

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BUSINESS

Maritime workers suspend nationwide strike

Maritime workers

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has suspended its three-day strike indefinitely to enable government stakeholders intervene.

The President of MWUN, Mr Adewale Adeyanju, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Friday.

According to him, the suspension is due to the intervention of the Permanent Secretaries in Ministries of Transportation and Labour & Employment as well as other stakeholders in the maritime industry.

“The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman and her management team, had also given a two-week ultimatum to the International Oil Company (IOCs) over non-payment of dockworkers.

“The notice expires on Monday July 8, 2019, to recognise the Government.

“The meeting is to recognise the appointed stevedores and pay the Dockworkers their outstanding Wages/Salaries.

Maritime
Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN)

“The Managements of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) led by Dr Peterside Dakuku, Nigerian Shippers Council, led by Mr Hassan Bello and Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) led by Princess Vicky Haastrup would be part of the meeting,” he said.

He appreciated the solidarity given to the union for the past three days against the management of the IOCs.

“We have noted with grave concern that some major stakeholders in the industry who are not in any way involved as to why the union embarked on a strike are adversely affected in their operations,” Adeyanju said.

He appreciated the timely intervention of the leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress as well as all the associations of clearing agents at the ports.

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HEADLINES

Strike: JOHESU issues 7-day ultimatum

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) on Monday issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands.
Mr Josiah Biobelemoye, the National Chairman of the union, said this at a warning rally organised by the union in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), among other stakeholders, to drive home the challenges bedeviling the health sector in Abuja.
Biobelemoye noted that the seven days ultimatum, effective from Jan. 4, was given due to the intervention of clerics and their love for the Nigerian populace.
“We decided to seek God’s intervention by reporting our offenders to him. Last Friday we attended the Juma’at Prayers while on Sunday we attended Church Service.
“Fortunately and unfortunately, we met the Minister of Health in the church where we worship and the Overseer told him that he is in a better position to resolve this matter and allow the populace to receive better health.
“The cleric further pleaded with us to exercise some patience, hence we decided to give the seven days ultimatum after which we will report to the NLC that decided to take over the matter,” Biobelemoye noted.
The chairman listed the demands of the union as unjustified withholding of the salaries of its members for April and May last year, upward adjustment of CONHESS Salary Structure and headship of hospital departments.
Others, according to him, are implementation of consultancy cadre for JOHESU members and punitive actions against its members at Federal Medical Centre Owerri and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
He specifically noted that these demands were outside the ones under the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
Biobelemoye added that the rally was basically informed due to the violation of the May 30 Court Order by the Federal Ministry of Health.
According to him, the court ordered the union to suspend the action and also said no party should do anything that will jeopardise the peace in places of work.
“While we are in the ARD discussing, the Federal Ministry of Health decided to indiscriminately implement no-work-no-pay after the court has said no one should do anything to provoke the other.
“We refused to take action for over seven months that they violated the court’s order because we are mindful of the fact that every strike affects the common man negatively.
“We know that public health institutions are the cheapest for the Nigerian populace so we were reluctant of embark on strike for over seven months.
“We have used the means of dialogue to impress it on the federal ministry of health and its management that they are violating a court order but to no avail.
“We use this medium to tell Nigerians that have opportunity of interacting with those in authority specifically the minister of health to do the needful,” he said.
Earlier, the NLC President, Mr Ayuba Waba, said he would map out actions to ensure the demand of over 90 per cent of the health work force was meant.
Waba further noted that it would work out modalities to compel the minister of health to respect the collective agreement reached with the union.
He specifically quoted the National Industrial Court judgment as stipulating that no health worker should be denied of skipping, arrears and salary adjustment, among others.
According to him, instead of obeying that judgment by paying the over 90 per cent workers their dues, the minister paid the medical doctors, which is unfair and unjust.
“We will mobilise Nigerian workers to battle, collective bargaining agreement must be respected. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands,” Waba said. (NAN)

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NEWS & LIFE

MAN wants urgent end to ASUU strike

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Ogun Chapter, has called for urgent intervention in resolving the disputes that led to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Mr Wale Adegbite, a former Chairman of MAN in the state made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, Ogun, on Saturday.

NAN recalls that ASUU had on Nov. 5, 2018 embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike over some agreements between it and the Federal Government.

He stressed the need for the Federal Government to quickly intervene in the current industrial dispute.

”The earlier the better they resolve the problem so that we can have qualified graduates leaving the nation’s universities,” he said.

He appealed to the parties to shift grounds so that the strike could come to an end.