Telecom workers threaten strike over anti-labour practices

Tariff, Data, Exchange Telecommunications, Workers, ITU, Telecom, Network operators, NCC

Telecommunication workers have issued a seven-day indefinite strike notice, effective September 9, 2024, to 39 companies including Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited over what they describe as prevalent precarious working conditions.

The workers under the aegis of the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association (PTECSSAN) gave the notice in a statement issued by its General Secretary, Okonu Abdullahi, on Tuesday, September 2.

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

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

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

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“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.”

The General Secretary listed other demands to include immediate recognition of the union as the negotiating body for the employees on workers’ welfare.

Abdullahi noted the telecom workers were demanding the immediate remittance of membership dues into the union’s 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.

The Star