Business
Union Compels Firm To Pay Sacked Workers’ Salaries
The National Union of
Chemical Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLNMPE) recently succeeded in compelling the management of Nycil Nigeria Ltd., to pay one year salary to workers sacked last month.
The Tide source reports that Nycil, based in Sango in Ogun, had in December, sacked 17 workers, including four union executives without following due process.
The workers were paid only three months, irrespective of the number of years they had served the company.
Nycil is into manufacturing and marketing of synthetic resins, emulsions and allied chemicals.
The President of NUCFTLNMPE, Mr Boniface Isok, who led union members to shut Nycil over alleged indiscriminate termination of appointments, accused the firm’s management of not negotiating with the union before sacking workers.
“When 40 workers were sacked in June 2015, the company did not consult us and we did not query them. We directed the workers to continue their work in peace.
“On December 31, another 17 workers, including four union officials were sacked without negotiating with us.
“That is why we stopped operation in the company until the management discusses with us and stops all forms of inhumane treatment meted on workers.’’
He said that with the agreement now signed, the management would ensure that gross salary was paid within weeks and indiscriminate sacking of workers stopped.
Isok said that the union was not against sacking of any employee but that the management must provide good reasons for termination of appointments.
The Human Resources Manager of Nycil, Prince Olufemi Olugbogi, appologised to the unionists for sacking workers without consulting them, noting that the action was taken to reduce cost.
The Controller in the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Ogun, Mr Muyiwa Fatoki, who reconciled both parties, advised them to respect the sanctity of agreements for the development of the company.
After a four-hour rigorous negotiation between the government, union and the management, it was agreed that 12 months gross salary should be added to the union officials.
All the parties agreed that six months gross salary should be added to the staff and that there should be no more indiscriminate sacking of workers.
The parties added that no worker should be victimised for roles played in the course of resolving the conflict.