The Police in Ovwan/Aladja in Udu local government area of Delta state on Wednesday, disrupted a peaceful protest embarked upon by Delta Steel Company (DSC) Workers now Premium Steel & Mines Limited over their unpaid entitlements including arrears, as the protesters dared the police and continued with the protest.
The peaceful protesters who had come under the auspices OfIron & Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria & Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria (an affiliate of the United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC) were resolute in their determination to press home their point, saying that nothing, not even the police, can stop them until their entitlements were paid.
Marching through the Egini road in Steel Town, they chanted solidarity songs while bearing placards with inscriptions such as” Premium Steel pay us our entitlements or No work,’ ‘We are no longer in control of our homes, Delta Steel Company Workers,’ ‘AMCON/Receiver Manager we reject 25% payment as final terminal benefits,’ ‘AMCON pay us our 100% entitlement or NO Work,’ ‘Delta Steel Company Workers children are out of school,’ ‘Monkey dey work, baboon dey eat,’ ‘AMCON pay us our labour we have worked for,’ and ‘Our labour must not be in vain,” among others.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the general secretary of the United Labour Congress (ULC), Mr. Didi Adodo, stated that they embarked on the peaceful protest because the federal government, AMCON, Receiver Manager and Premium Steel refused to pay their entitlements.
Adodo claimed that they were only paid 25 percent contrary to the 100 percent agreements reached before above mentioned agencies purportedly said they don’t want to pay again, noting that they are currently being owed 75 percent while some of its members were not even paid the 25 percent.
He said several ultimatum had been issued to the above mentioned establishments but they have refused to convene a meeting to address their plights just as he advised the federal government to pay all their entitlements including arrears and salaries in full.
“The Police cannot stop us except they pay us our money or address us.” The Vice President (Private Sector) of Iron & Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Mr. Ebhaleme Pius and the Udu branch chairman, Chief Peace Oputu, corroborated the claims of Mr. Adodo just as they also appealed to the federal government to honour the agreement reached.
0 $type={blogger}:
Post a Comment
Please no use of abusive or hate speech