Trouble is currently brewing at Nigerdock Nigeria Plc, as the company's contracting firm, Prime Services Company has allegedly laid off a total of 1,664 Nigerian workers Shipping Position Daily has confirmed.
The lay off was allegedly carried out because the workers were demanding for a pay rise after five years of Casualization of labour without increment in remuneration.
Trouble is currently brewing at Nigerdock Nigeria Plc, as the company's contracting firm, Prime Services Company has allegedly laid off a total of 1,664 Nigerian workers Shipping Position Daily has confirmed.
The lay off was allegedly carried out because the workers were demanding for a pay rise after five years of Casualization of labour without increment in remuneration.
Nigerdock Nigeria Plc is an industrial corporation focused on Oil&Gas construction and major marine services including offshore and pressure vessel fabrication, ship building and repair, and specialized Oil&Gas and Maritime support.
Our correspondent last week sighted a large crowd of the severed workers at the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Secretariat at Kirikiri Lighter Terminal in Apapa Lagos and confirmed a copy of the bulk messages sent by the company's management to the aggrieved workers, notifying them of their termination.
Some of the aggrieved workers who spoke to our correspondent exclusively, last week Thursday in Lagos alleged that the company decided not to pay the workers the new wages as agreed by both parties after five years of non increment of salary.
Speaking on behalf of the workers,Unit Chairman ,Niger Dock Workers and Prime Service Branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria , Comrade Otobo Daniel confirmed that "the management of Nigerdock PLC do not want to pay the increment, allowances and other bonuses the workers are asking for"
"They have been dragging their foot, they are giving us ridiculous offers and we cannot accept such"
He alleged that workers who have served for 10 to 15 years were offered just days wages as severance pay without notice, adding that they are perceived as casual staff.
He alleged that the company does not have what it takes to employ full staff and the workers have been subjected to inhuman treatment and Casualization for the past five years.
The text message sent to the workers by management reads " Please be advised your services with Prime Services have been terminated with immediate effect. Details will be displayed at the Village & Tincan gates tomorrow AM".
Meanwhile, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has stepped into the crisis to ensure that the workers are served justice.
Speaking on behalf of the union, District Chairman ,Seamen,NIWA and Transport Workers Branch of MWUN, Comrade Unukefe Power said that as a responsible union of the Federal Republic of Nigeria "we cannot see workers running to us then we abandon them"
"I inform the union authority and they gave me the go ahead to ensure that the right thing is done", Power stated.
He however noted that the union will engage the company in order to meet the demands of the workers.
Also, the statement made available to Shipping Position Daily by the union also revealed that the workers had written a letter of complaints to the Seamen, NIWA and Water Transport Workers Branch President Comrade Francis Bunu.
The letter reads; "we are pleased to bring to your desk our plights and complaints for your intervention, as to avoid inhuman treatment on Nigerians working in Nigerdock Nigeria plc. "
"The crux of the matter is that on the 4th and 7th September , 2015, workers in mass forwarded their demands to management of the above mentioned company and a settlement agreement was reached in the presence of the Area Commander of Police as a witness on the 10th of September 2015"
"On the fateful day of 28th September 2015 the management of Nigerdock plc breach the above stated agreement of no victimisation before the 29th of September, this is what they did by sending out memo stating that 29th September shall be work free day and shall be paid for as normal working day and that work will commence on the 30th September, as to enable them sit and discuss with the workforce representative"
"The management sent out SMS to workers on the 29th and 30th of September informing workers not to come to work that those days will be paid for"
"On the 1st of October 2015, management again sent out SMS to workers that their services are no longer required and that they shall be notified on a letter date on when to collect their end of contract letter"
But when contacted Corporate Affairs Manager of Nigerdock Nigeria plc, Mr. Ashiru Olaseni requested for the questions via email but failed to respond as at press time.
Ashiru told our correspondent via telephone last week Friday that he will prefer responding through email in order not to be misquoted.
However, he refused to pick his calls afterwards when our correspondent called him to get the company's reaction.
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