Business
Rivers NLC Pickets Eastern Bulkcem
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Rivers State Council, has picketed Eastern Bulkcem Company Limited on Tuesday for not implementing the agreement reached between workers, management and labour.
Speaking with leader of NLC Picketing team, Comrade Morrison Otanjah said the company deliberately refused to implement the agreement reached with the state congress, precisely on the 31st August, 2009.
According to him, some of the issues contained in the agreement, states that management should conclude the recent conversion exercise with harmonisation of salaries, appraisals and promotion in order to motivate the workforce and productivity.
Comrade Frank Ifebor who spoke on behalf of the four unions said the unions had given the management time to announce the implementation of the agreement.
“We have given the management enough time, infact, exceeded the normal labour ultimatum days, but there was no response and the only way is take the proper action”, he said.
According to Ifebor, the major reason for the strike action is borne out of the fact that management failed to pay the accrued gratitude owe workers which was contained in agreement signed by the management and federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. “We are partners in progress, but the management have failed in their part to implement the condition of service which they accepted to implement”, he stated.
When The Tide reporter contacted the public relations officer of the company, Chief Collin Wagbara, he said the management had not given him the mandate to speak on the issue.
The Divisional Police Officer incharge of Rumuolumeni Police Station, Patricia Momoh advised the striking workers not to be violent, saying that if they are demanding for their right, it should be done through dialogue.
Tonye Orabere