Communication disruption looms as 800 telecom workers strike over poor working conditions

Joy Agwunobi

The strike which commenced on Monday,September 10, was prompted by a string of unresolved grievances, including poor working conditions, unjust termination of employees, denial of union rights, and the non-payment of membership dues. The union, which primarily comprises contract workers employed indirectly by telecom servicing companies such as Huawei, IHS, and other subcontractors, says it has been pushed to the breaking point by employers’ negligence.

Okonu Abdullahi, secretary -general of PTECSSAN, stated “We have been patient, we have tried dialogue, but nothing has changed; our members are being mistreated, their rights trampled on, and yet they keep the telecom industry running every day. This strike is our last resort.”

According to Abdullahi, the issues have persisted for years. Workers are often employed under precarious conditions, with little job security and inadequate recognition of their right to unionise.

Despite previous strikes and government intervention, he noted that telecom companies have continued their old practices, leaving the workers feeling abandoned and unheard.

He noted that  members of the union include field maintenance engineers, transmission engineers, customer service engineers, fibre engineers, and other essential staff who keep telecom service running.

With the strike in full swing, union members have been ordered to stop addressing technical faults or service outages, a move that could result in widespread disruptions.

“We have instructed all our members not to respond to any service outages. Outages happen every day, and without our engineers stepping in, millions of subscribers will feel the impact,” said Abdullahi.

The secretary general further  emphasised that the telecom sector relies heavily on these engineers and maintenance staff to ensure that base stations, fibre networks, and other critical infrastructure function smoothly, adding that without their expertise, minor technical issues could escalate into major outages, causing severe service disruptions nationwide..

“Our members are the ones who step in when your network goes down,” Abdullahi pointed out. “Now, imagine what happens when they’re not there to fix it. This is why we’re urgently pushing for change; the consequences of this strike are not something the industry can afford to ignore.”

The striking workers play a crucial role in supporting major telecom operators like MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile, who often outsource critical operations to servicing companies. This outsourcing model has created a complex web of employment relationships where workers at the bottom level bear the brunt of the poor labour practices, while the primary telecom companies distance themselves from direct responsibility.

This is not the first time the telecom sector has faced such unrest. In April of this year, the union staged a similar strike over the same grievances, prompting intervention from the Ministry of Labour, which brokered a temporary resolution.

However, the union claims that the companies involved have reverted to their previous ways, ignoring the promises made during negotiations.

“The Ministry of Labour helped us resolve the last strike, but nothing changed, the companies went back to their old habits, and now we are here again, but with even more members joining the strike,” Abdullahi lamented.

Despite the rising tensions, major telecom operators, represented by the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), have largely distanced themselves from the striking workers. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON,  previously stated during the union’s earlier strike that the association does not officially recognise the union, which represents contract workers. ALTON’s membership includes major players like MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile.

According to Adebayo, the companies involved in the dispute are not ALTON members, and the association has not engaged in formal negotiations with the union.

“We are committed to supporting the rights of workers and their freedom of association.

“However, this particular group is not known to us, and we have not had any official discussions with them, ” he added.