Anti-union activities: Court rules in favour of NUCFLANMPE

THE National Industrial Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted the National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non Metallic Products Employees (NUCFLANMPE), the right to organize and/or unionize the junior workers at the Indorama Eleme Fertilzer and Chemicals Limited  and its sister company,  Indorama Pet and Packaging Limited.

NUCFLANMPE finally got a victory over the two companies, after two years of rigorous court process.

The union had being denied the rights to unionise the workers over the years, by both companies.

The case had since commenced in 2016 at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in the Port Harcourt Judicial Division and dragged for over two years before  Hon. Justice P. I. Harman.

In a recent ruling, the judge awarded judgement in favour of NUCFRLANMPE last month.

ALSO READ: Lagbaja and Abuja’s Game of Chicken

According to the judgement signed by the presiding judge,  the battle for the rightful union who should unionise and collect check-off dues in the companies had been between NUCFRLANMPE and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

The case has had NUPENG, and the two companies as defendants and NUCFRLANMPE as claimant.

The presiding judge in his final analysis stated that based on the reasons advanced and the authorities cited, the suit instituted by the claimant was meritorious and all the relieves sought by the claimant granted.

The judgement has said, “That the claimant is the proper trade union that is legally entitled to organize and/or unionis

e the junior workers of the 2nd and 3rd Defendants to the exclusion of the 1st Defendant.

“That the 1st Defendant has no right or legal justification whatsoever to organize and/or unionize the junior workers of the 2nd and 3rd Defendants.

“The 2nd and 3rd Defendants are by this judgement ordered to continue to pay check -off dues of their junior workers to the claimants.”

The judgement further ordered the companies to continue to deal and relate with the claimant in respect of any trade union issue on behalf of the junior workers, while restraining other unions from interfering or poaching.