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NLC denies plans to suspend strike over mass sack in banks

By Toyin­ Olasinde
05 July 2016   |   1:26 am
President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, said that the rumour making the rounds was not from the NLC, adding that the plan was in place until the banks have satisfied set condition.

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Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that there was no plan to suspend proposed strike action in protest of mass sack of workers in banks.

President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, said that the rumour making the rounds was not from the NLC, adding that the plan was in place until the banks have satisfied set condition.

He said that the NLC had issued a 21-Day ultimatum to the Banks last month, adding that the ultimatum expired on June 29, “making us compliant with the standard practice for engaging in Industrial action within the ambits of the Laws of the Federation.”

Ajaero added that there was no time they had any discussions with the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the Ministry of Labour or any other group purporting to represent Banks under any platform in relation to the planned picketing exercise.

He said further that rumour making the arounds about the called-off strike action was not truth “because we find it invidious that a group of people will meet somewhere and pretend to represent workers in the Banking sector without the involvement of the Unions in the Sector. Is it possible to shave a man’s head in his absence?”

Ajaero reassured the bankers that there was no basis for the illusory call-off of the picketing as all the issues that necessitated the picketing ultimatum in the first place are yet to be addressed.

“Industrial Relations disputes such as illegal mass sacks are not addressed in Summits but through established framework that governs the relationship of the social partners. It is after the impunity has been thoroughly addressed and resolved that a summit to map the way forward is now convened. For now, that has not been done,” he said.

NLC and its affiliate, National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), reiterates that the banks should not be deceived into believing that they have succeeded in scuttling our intended actions.

“If the Employers through NECA extended any inducement to anybody to carry out this intended sabotage, we advise them to consider it a loss. We advise them that Nigerian workers as represented by us cannot be enticed into selling out our membership as may have been done in this case no matter the quantum involved.

“We shall demonstrate the powers of the labour movement in the coming weeks as a bastion of the people’s morality and much more of the workers interest and rights and the Banks shall unfortunately be the theatre. We are coming to the Banks as promised and it will be compelling if they fail to dialogue with us in the Sector and our Labour centre the NLC.

It is important that we remind all that it is against the traditions and ethics of the Congress for anyone to secretly enter into any discussion with employers without representatives of the workers involved participating. In the movement, we consider it a serious breach and sabotage.

Nigerian workers especially those in the Finance industry supported actively by the Congress are determined to wage a compelling struggle that would once and for all bring sanity to the industrial relations clime in the sector.

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