Telecoms workers threaten strike over anti-labour practices

Telecommunication workers have issued a seven-day indefinite strike notice, effective Sept. 9, to 39 companies including Huawei Technologies Nigeria Ltd. over what they describe as prevalent precarious working conditions.

The workers under the aegis of Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association (PTECSSAN) gave the notice in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr Okonu Abdullahi, on Tuesday.

Other companies, it issued notice to, are Tylium Nigeria Ltd; Specific Tool and Techniques; Safari Group Ltd. among others.

Abdullahi said that the strike had become necessary following alleged anti-labour practices including the refusal of the employers to recognise and respect the workers’ constitutional rights to freely associate with the union.

He also alleged that three members of the union were unjustly sacked.

“We shall not be suspending the planned indefinite strike action until our demands, which are as follows, are met:

“Immediate reinstatement of the three unjustly sacked workers: Sotola Sunday Kolawole, Ulu Ikechukwu Christopher and Alex Franklin C.

“Immediate recognition of the fundamental right of the employees to freely associate with the union,” he said.

According to the general secretary, other demands include immediate recognition of the union as the negotiating body for the employees on workers welfare.

He said also that the union was demanding the immediate remittance of membership dues into its account as earlier provided among others.

“We hope that these companies will utilise the seven-day window of this notice to meet our demands and avert the indefinite strike action,” Abdullahi said.