Oluseyi Dasilva
Scores of workers under the aegis of the “Labour Union of Olam Grains”, Ilorin, on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest to drive home their employers’ alleged breach of agreement and disregard to the organization of the Union.
A representative of the protesters, who spoke with our reporter under condition of anonymity revealed that the decision to halt work today is because of the failure and selfishness on the part of the management to meet up with agreed terms.
He said: “Hence, the union have decided to stop work today until they come to the terms of their negotiation and these demands are met.”
“They have negotiated with the management. The pandemic is deadly and still hitting badly, the health of the workers are at risk and the management needs to ensure safety of the workers at this time, this is paramount.
“They have earlier agreed that workers would have some time off work during the week, including Sundays which is going to be for disinfecting the plant. Contrary to agreement, work days have increased including Sundays when the disinfection exercise was agreed.
The respondent also added: “Our agreements have been breach and consigned, and until these demands are met, the members would not go to work. As matter of fact, workers are not supposed to be at work today, Tuesday, due to their agreement. Messages were disbursed last night requesting workers to report to work today without due information and proper consultation of the union. They are not slaves. This, he said, is arrant disregard and inhumane treatment of people.”
Another respondent among the protesters who corroborated the view of the first respondent further stated that the management longer sees the need to carry the workers along in whatever decision they take.
He said that senior staff, who are not union members, and management enter into negotiations to the detriment of the union and members adding that by-passing the union and keep workers in a blackout resulted in the protest.
He said: “The leadership of the union is now appearing to be sabotaging the right and interest of the union to the management.
Another staff and member of the union, described the attitude of the management to the matter on as lackluster.
Efforts to reach the management for their comments proved abortive as the presence of policemen drafted to maintain peace was overwhelming but no casualty was recorded as at time of filing this story.
Further details will be published as soon as the event unfolds.
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