Telecoms workers brace for strike over alleged anti-labour practices

Joy Agwunobi 

Telecommunication workers belonging to the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association (PTECSSAN) have threatened to commence an indefinite strike on September 9, citing poor working conditions across 39 companies, including Huawei Technologies Nigeria Ltd.

In a statement issued by the General Secretary of PTECSSAN, Okonu Abdullahi, the union levelled accusations against a number of firms, including Tylium Nigeria Ltd, Specific Tool and Techniques, and Safari Group Ltd., for engaging in anti-labour practices such as the denial of employees’ rights to unionise and the unjust termination of staff.

Abdullahi clarified that the union’s impending strike action is a direct reaction to the alleged anti-labour practices of the firms, including the dismissal of three union members, namely Sotola Sunday Kolawole, Ulu Ikechukwu Christopher, and Alex Franklin C.

“The strike action will not be suspended until our demands are met,” he stated.

In order to avert the looming strike action, PTECSSAN outlined several key demands that must be met by the companies, including the reinstatement of three dismissed workers, recognition of employees’ right to associate with the union, acknowledgement of the union as the legitimate representative for negotiating workers’ welfare, and immediate remittance of membership dues by the companies.

Abdullahi therefore issued a strong call to the companies to address these demands within the allotted seven-day notice period, emphasising that failure to do so will result in an industrial action that may have severe consequences for the companies and their operations.