Owing to the no work no pay threat from government to labour union and its workers, the outgoing chairman of the National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees (NUPTE), Comrade Sunday Alhassan, has stated that government at all levels should be reminded that before any industrial action is taken, there must have been months of work without pay.
While speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in what was the last conference of the union for his administration noted that “The important thing is for workers to be committed to their ideals obtained in union practice.
“A worker is entitled to his wages and if that wages are not given; the workers must be everything in place to put the management under tremendous pressure to give them what is their dues.
“If any government says it is no work no pay, it is as simple as no pay no work, if they invoke their own we also invoke our own. Before any union goes on any industrial action, it must be because the government refused to pay so it should be a no pay no work. We have worked for 30 days and are entitled to payment, now, you have not paid and you are saying we shouldn’t protest, it is like flogging a child and asking the child not to cry.”
Comrade Alhassan also urged that leaders and workers in all sphere must learn how to work selflessly for the greater good for any organisation or union they find themselves, stressing that “If their focus isn’t based on personal interest, it will be difficult for anybody to factionalise them.