…Advises him to embrace social dialogue with organised labour
The Vice President of IndustriALL Global Union, Comrade Issa Aremu, has called on Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to as a matter of urgency lift the siege on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Secretariat in Port-Harcourt and initiave social dialogue for resolution of all outstanding labour issues especially on the new minimum wage.
Comrade Aremu who is a member of the National Institute, Kuru Jos, made the call today in his 2020 ‘May Day’ message, describing the siege on the NLC Secretariat as illegal, anti-labour and unconstitutional.
He therefore called for the new relationships between the Governor and the organised labour through social dialogue to resolve the burning issues amicably.
He saluted the courage of the members of PENGASSAN to resist the unholy attempt by the Governor to harrash and deprive members of the union on essential duty.
“The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) commendably recently resisted the attempt by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to harass members of the union on essential duty by security operatives”
“It’s time for new relationships between all Stakeholders for Partnership against pandemic and new post COVID-19 economy not the old war of attrition and adversarial unhelpful relations.
“Comrade Aremu saluted the prompt action of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, in removing former Rivers Commissioner of Police, Dandaura Mustapha, and replacing him with Gobum Mukan, saying that the former CP played unacceptable anti-labour role in illegally arresting 22 members of the union from ExxonMobil on essential duty.
“The federal and state governments had listed categories of persons exempted from the total lockdown directives to include senior staff in the oil and gas industry which PENGASSAN represents. COVID-19 already made work precarious. No employer including state Governor should further violate the rights of workers through intimidation and harassment.
“More than ever before, solidarity is needed to prevent the pandemic and protect jobs. We salute the solidarity of National Union of Electricity workers (NUEE), PENGASSAN and NUPENG in freeing the two Caverton Helicopters pilots and their ten passengers that were arrested, charged to court, and remanded in Port Harcourt prison for allegedly violating the lockdown order in Rivers State. An injury to one is an injury to all” he added.
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