Pabod Brewery Staff Protest Anti-Labour Policies

Staff of Pabod Breweries Limited have staged a peaceful protest at the premises of the company against management insistence on the policy of no work no pay as reprisal for staff who took part in the last nationwide strike over the removal of oil subsidy.

The placard carrying protesters accused management of flaunting the directives of Federal Government that all workers be paid their full entitlements, and demanded that their withheld arrears of January salary be paid.

Addressing the protesters, Rivers State chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, said the victimisation of workers by the management of Pabod Breweries, was an indication that the company has no regards for Nigeria labour policies. The TUC boss said the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity had been contacted over the matter, and they have issued directives to the company to comply accordingly.

Comrade Onuegbu also faulted the employment policy of the company, which places staff on long periods of probation without conversion, and employing of non-Rivers indigenes into the junior cadre as stipulated in by labour laws.

Also speaking, the Head, Research, Industrial Relations, Education and Training, of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, Solomo Adebosin, said the protest was to rouse the insensitivity of Pabod management to the rights of workers. He accused the management of practicing slave labour and stated that the demonstration will continue until management rescinds its decision.

It would be recalled that allegations of anti-labour policies leveled against the management of Pabod was raised on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly, recently, by Hon. Martins Amaewhule, representing Obio/Akpor Constituency I.

However, the management of the company appears unnerved over the issues raised as portrayed in its ‘no work no pay’ policy. Efforts to get the comment of the management of the company was not successful as top officials declined to comment on the issue.

Taneh Beemene