Telecom services may be disrupted as workers threaten strike
• Plateau trade unions on warning strike over Executive Order
Dand call services may face disruption from Thursd ay as the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ( PTECSSAN) has directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike action effective midnight on Thursday, April 4, 2024.
The union said the decision became inevitable as its members, who are field engineers, had been subjected to slavery in their country by foreigners.
A statement by PTECSSAN General Secretary, Okonu Abdullahi, alleged that subcontractors, such as Reime Group, All Streamenergy Solutions Limited, Uppercrest Limited, Tyllium Nigeria Limited and Specific Tools and Techniques Limited, whom the workers are said to be working for on projects won by Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited, have continued to make life miserable for their members. He lamented that the workers, who had no entitlements commensurate to their efforts paid to them, were made to work without specific hours and risk their lives going to the field in the wee hours of the night without adequate security provided for them.
Abdullahi said all efforts by the union and the Ministry of Labour and Employment to resolve the union’s concerns and its members proved abortive as the companies failed to make themselves available for conciliatory meetings. He said it was in light of this that the leadership of the union directed its members to commence an indefinite strike action.
He implored Nigerians to bear with the union during the period of the strike action and the attendant discomfort it might bring to them. PTECSSAN chief highlighted unresolved issues such as the immediate recognition of the fundamental right of the employees to freely associate with the union, recognition of the union as a negotiating body for the employees on workers’ welfare and the immediate commencement of negotiation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement ( CBA) for the benefit of union members among others.
Efforts to reach the firm to comment on the matter proved abortive as calls placed to them were not picked up. ALSO, the Plateau State Joint Transport, Traders and Marketers Association has declared a one- day warning strike against the state government’s Executive Order 003, banning trucks from entering the Jos- Bukuru metropolis.
The Joint Trade Association asked its members to suspend businesses today, as a warning strike, calling on the government to rescind its decisions.
The associations made the declaration, yesterday, at a press conference, led by Samaila Garba, flanked by nine other leaders, held at the state secretariat of the Plateau State Traders and Marketers Association, Jos.