Union Tackles Pabod Breweries Over Workers Salary

The leadership of Food Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOBSSA) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state are poised for a show down with the management of the Pabod Breweries over an alleged attempt to cut workers salary.

The management of the company had on 25th January 2012 through a circular  titled: “Implementation of the no work, no pay rule , signed by the company’s Finance Director, Andries Plessis threatened to apply the rule for workers that participated in the nation wide industrial strike early this year.

The company said such rule was recognised in Nigeria and by international law, stressing that no negotiation would be entered into regarding the subject.

The Finance Director further said in good faith, the company management had decided to review its decision and give employees the option of forfeiting 5 days leave in lieu of the days employees were not at work but  joined the nationwide strike.

The management accused the senior staff union of failing to accept the two options given by the company.

The company said the decision to implement the rule was in view of the debt burden of the company running into one billion, one hundred and thirty million, one hundred and seven thousand and five hundred and twenty naira (N1,130,107,520).

The company added that in the previous year preceding this year, the company’s loss was up to the tune of (N367,488,830) three hundred and sixty seven million four hundred and eighty eight thousand and eight hundred thirty naira.

The company further emphasised that the company was in a much worse financial position than it was for the entire previous financial year.

The organised labour therefore pleaded with the management to rescind its decision to punish workers due to the financial position of the company.

Speaking to The Tide,  State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Chika Onuegbu said “the organised labour will not hesitate to close down anti labour companies like Pabod Breweries.”

He further said the Federal Ministry of Labour had invited them for a meeting to resolve the issue.

The Tide attended the meeting where the State’s Controller of Labour, Mr. Cletus Nade asked the reporter to leave  despite pleas by the TUC State PRO, Comrade George Ikechi Chikadibia and FOBTOBSSA Unit Secretary, Amadi Alex to accord him observer status.

Speaking earlier to The Tide, the company’s Human Resources Manager, Mr. Benjamin Ogunjobi said the union had not followed due process in handling the matter with the company.

The breweries was formerly owned by the state government and later privatised it with the hope of achieving efficiency in the management of the company.

But there are strong indications that the  company is today groaning under debt burden.

The organised  labour in the state also alleged a seeming plot to ease out few indigenes of the state working in the company, despite the fact that the management positions are dominated by non- indigenes and expatriate staff.

Philip Okparaji