Nationwide Strike Looms In Power Sector

There are indications that
workers in the various power companies across the country may embark on another industrial action in their move against casualisation, establishment of branches of workers unions in the various companies, amongst other agitations.
An inside source told The Tide that the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity And Allied Companies (SSAEAC), have been holding series of meetings and consulting widely with stakeholders over the impending strike.
According to the source who pleaded anonymity, the two unions are critically studying the way and manner the private investors were disengaging their members.
“The unions demand that the disengagement exercise must be transparently done and also frowned at a situation where those re-engaged would be kept on casual status through another probation period”, the source said, noting that the six month period that elapsed ought to be regarded as probation and workers should be given permanent engagement letters.
The Secretary-General of SSAEAC, Mr Abiodum Ogunsegha confirmed to newsmen in Lagos that the union was closely watching events in the industry, as the six months contract ends”.
He warned the investors not to resort to casualistaion through the back door. “We expect that from now on, any letter that would emanate from the investors will be permanent letters of employment”, he said.
The Tide also learnt that the unions were set to move for establishment of branches of NUEE and SSAEAC in all the business units to ensure proper protection of workers’ welfare, a situation which the private investors are said not to be comfortable with. Some of the companies are said to have opposed establishment of the unions at this early stage of the contract for the protection of their inerest.
It was further gathered that in a bid to frustrate unionism, the former union executives were targeted for sack at the take-over stage from PHCN and that those perceived to have active postures of unionism were also targeted and sacked last week.
The unions have continued to oppose the idea of mass retrenchment and expressed dissatisfaction with alleged inhuman conditions members were subjected to during the past six months by the new investors.
During the nation-wide industrial action planned this week or early next week, one of the strategies is a nation-wide blackout.

Chris Oluoh