NLC suspends picketing of banks over mass sack of workers
(Nigeria) The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Wednesday in Abuja announced the suspension of the proposed picketing of six banks over mass sack of workers.
NLC President Ayuba Wabba made this known at a joint press
conference organised by the NLC, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, and some representatives of the affected banks.
NLC had issued a 14-day ultimatum to six banks to recall all
sacked workers or face a nationwide industrial action.
The banks are Fidelity Bank, Diamond Bank, First City
Monument Bank, First Bank, Ecobank and Skye Bank.
He said that the decision to call off the picketing was a
follow-up to the Public Hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Banks and
Financial Institutions.
Wabba said that the Senate had asked the Ministry of Labour
and Employment to convene a bilateral meeting and consultation in the best
interest of the workers and the employers.
``We have come to an agreement that all of us would attend
the tripartite meeting that is being proposed by the ministry, to look at
auxiliary issues affecting the sector.
``We have also agreed as NLC, working with our affiliates,
to suspend all forms of hostility, including the picketing, until the meeting
takes place. We have also looked at other related issues that include
non-unionisation, issue of protection fees by some banks, among others.
``We have agreed mutually that the issues will be discussed
under law at the tripartite meeting being organised by the ministry and all of
us have agreed to subject ourselves to it.''
He noted that all parties had agreed that the tripartite
meeting was necessary as it would take on board the interest of the workers as
provided by the law under Section 20 of the Trade Union Act.
According to him, the law provides a forum for dialogue,
consultation before any process would be concluded.
``We have observed the challenge, especially the issue of
the process, the procedure and the provision of the law.''
Wabba noted that the National Union of Banks, Insurance and
Financial Institutions Employees, NUBIFIE, had updated the Congress on how far
they had gone with engagement with the affected banks.
``We have looked at the banks one after the other; some of
them have not actually carried out those redundancy. They have assured us that
all the processes of law would be followed; we have also advised them to
interface with the in-house union, with a view to bringing the issues to a
logical end,'' Wabba said.
Also speaking, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, the Director-General of
NECA, called for dialogue as a way of resolving issues in the banking and
financial institutions setor.
``The fact is that in employer and employees relationship,
there will always be issues but the important thing is that when there are
issues, there should be a structure and there should be an understanding among
social partners.
``It is important for them to submit themselves to social
dialogue and resolution to settle the disputes. So, what NECA and NLC have
demonstrated is that there are no issues that are too big for the two parties
to sit down and resolve.''
Oshinowo commended the NLC for accepting NECA's request that
the basic issue of retrenchment and rationalisation in the banks should be
resolved through social dialogue.
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