NIGCOMSAT workers threaten to shut activities

Nigeria Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) workers have threatened to shut down all activities in the company if the management failed to review their terms and condition of service.

Already, the workers, through its mother union, Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC)-have given the management a seven-day ultimatum within which to negotiate with their leadership or face indefinite strike.

The workers have written the management and vowed to disrupt all operations and activities in the company, should the management continue in its disregard of previous communications and efforts by the union to settle the issue amicably.

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In a letter dated 21 November, 2018 and addressed to the Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT, the union frowned at the total refusal of the management to negotiate the review of the terms and condition of service of staff members of the company.

The Union therefore, warned that it would have no other option than to apply full Trade Union actions to press home its demands.

Titled: “Re- Submission of proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement and Request for a meeting,” the letter signed by the General Secretary of SSASCGOC, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi, expressed worry over the plight of NIGCOMSAT workers and the refusal of the management to respond appropriately to the issue.

The letter with Reference number SSASCGOC/NIGCOMSAT/1/2018/34 read: “Kindly refer to our numerous letters on the above subject matter to which no response had been received from your office. Your refusal to respond to our latest letter No. SSASCGOC/NIGCOMSAT/1/2018 dated 18th July, 2018 is worrisome and portrays a smirk of management insensitivity to staff plight.

“Consequently, in line with our core responsibility of protecting the interest of staff members, especially as it affects their Terms and Conditions of Service, we are constraint to inform your office that proper negotiation meeting should commence without any further delay.

“Failure to convene the meeting within the next seven days after the receipt of this letter will be taken as a total refusal of management to negotiate the review of the terms and condition of service of staff members of the company.

“The Union therefore will have no other option than to apply full Trade Union actions to press home its demands.”

Comrade Olorunfemi told journalists in Abuja at the weekend that the workers have been sensitized and effectively mobilized on the action, adding that it was left to the management to do the needful or face indefinite strike.