Manufacturing firm wants relief on operations from unionists

Having stalled production for almost three weeks at its factory due to activities of labour union members, the management of Linda Manufacturing Company, makers of X-pression hair attachments and Weave-on, has sought the intervention of government in addressing the lingering concerns.

According to a statement, the firm explained that its operations have been halted for almost three weeks due to the activities of a set of aggrieved unionists who were sacked from the company recently, adding that, the intervention of the Lagos state government and other stakeholders is needed to address the issues.

The hair manufacturing company based in Agege with its head office in Mushin, noted further that the sacked unionists’ actions, which have not only hindered workers from coming to work and earning their means of livelihood, has also forced workers to hang around the company’s premises as well as dangerously along the roadside rather than going into the factory to work.

The South Korean company, which revealed that about 8,000 workers are presently under its pay roll, lamented that the action the unionists is capable of affecting the economic progress of Lagos State and the nation as a whole by sending wrong signals to investors, especially at this time that the government of Nigeria is sourcing for foreign investors to come into the country and invest.

The aggrieved workers responsible for the actions are said to have gone on rampage soon after their appointments were terminated from the company.

The company’s Operations Manager, Monday Nnah, explained that, the crisis started with an illegal protest that was ignited by the branch Chairman of National Union of Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), Emmanuel Usangusung on January 25, 2016, which eventually lead to a riot.

He said Usangusung and others caused serious pandemonium in the company and further led workers into the premises and offices where they destroyed property massively.

Nnah revealed further that, the company has in the process lost property worth more than N400 million while the international passports of one of the managers; his wife and two children (Koreans) were stolen.

Explaining why the workers were sacked, the Operations Manager said: “We had a meeting after the first disruption of production by Usangusung. The meeting ended very peacefully and we were to meet again a week after. But barely one hour after our meeting and agreement with both the branch and national executives of the Union, Usangusung went back into the factory and sparked off yet another protest.