ULC begins strike weekend

Following the expiration of the ultimatum given to the Federal Government by the United Labour Congress (ULC) the Labour Centre yesterday said it has concluded plan to commence a nationwide strike this weekend.

Speaking after its National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting in Lagos, the Centre said it would go ahead with the strike as planned if the Federal Government fails to meet the demands of Nigerian workers and masses by tomorrow.

Addressing newsmen, ULC President, Joe Ajaero, said, “this course of action, though very painful to us at this time, is the only alternative available to us as we have exhausted all known peaceful processes towards an amicable resolution of the dispute.
“We therefore call on all genuine patriots to join hands in solidarity with us to urge the Federal Government and state governors to be kind enough to meet demands of Nigerian workers.”

Ajaero noted that this became very important as there would be no fuel, no electricity and neither would people be able to access their money from the banks as all those unions are affiliates of ULC.

Recall that ULC issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government through its Central Working Committee (CWC), which expired on Friday, September 8, 2017.

He stated further that, “it is important to inform you that the official response we received from the Federal Government on this matter vide a letter from the Federal Ministry of Labour fell grossly short of addressing the issues raised by us, and which warranted an ultimatum in the first instance.

“Congress therefore held an emergency meeting, which deliberated on the said letter and was roundly found unsatisfactory and therefore unacceptable by the organ of the federation as our demands were not met. It therefore resolved to press on with the strike and has thus issued a final strike notice in fulfilment of the relevant statutes and traditions of engagement within the nation’s industrial relations space.”

Ajaero listed the immediate demands of the congress as follows: “That the Federal Government bans the stationing of the army and police in our workplaces and factory premises. This will stop employers who are now colluding with the army and other security agencies from setting up garrisons in our factories for the purposes of intimidating and harassing workers in order to deny them their rights and privileges. The army and the police should immediately withdraw their garrisons in the different workplaces where they are currently stationed, among others.”