S’East electricity workers protest police intimidation, poor welfare

Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) staff yesterday protested management’s alleged use of the police to intimidate their colleagues.

The union had earlier written to management through the Managing Director about the possibility of escalating the action to other states effective July 30 until all demand issues are conclusively addressed.

True to their threat, the workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), began protesting across the EEDC offices, including Awka.

Protesting what they tagged management’s persistent violation of conditions of service and insensitivity to workers’ welfare as well as humiliation of workers, they also demanded the release of all workers in detention.

The workers frowned at the indiscriminate arrest and detention of workers using men of the Nigeria Police Force, saying the practice violates conditions of service, due process, and extant labour laws.

In their protest letter titled ‘Re: Stop the Harassment and Intimidation of Workers in EEDC Now,” signed by the Senior Assistant General Secretary (East), Comrade Agyake Anthony, the workers listed a seven-point demand that they expect the EEDC management to meet before the protests are stopped.