Indefinite Workers Nationwide Strike Hits Telecom Industry

Telecom workers across Nigeria have launched an indefinite nationwide strike, which may disrupt services for millions of customers. The strike is in protest of unpaid salaries, poor working conditions, and the failure of telecom companies to implement collective bargaining agreements.

The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association, PTECSSAN, noted that commencing today, Monday, workers employees going on strike include field maintenance engineers, transmission engineers, customer service engineers, fibre engineers, and other critical staff.

There are fears that the strike could disrupt telecommunications services nationwide if not resolved quickly.

It was gathered that PTECSSAN has pending issues with no fewer than 39 telecoms servicing companies, including the sack of three of its members by Specific Tools & Technology Limited.

The 39 companies provide critical support services to the telecommunications operators in the country.

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In a news report by Vanguard, the union had earlier given a seven-day strike notice to the affected companies to address its demands or risk an indefinite strike.

Among PTECSSAN’s demands include immediate recognition of the fundamental right of the employees to freely associate with the Union, immediate recognition of the Union as a negotiating body for the employees on workers’ welfare and immediate remittance of membership dues into the Union’s account as earlier provided.

The demands equally are immediate recognition of the years of service of these workers, immediate commencement of appropriate pension deduction and remittance of same as required by the Pension Act, immediate approval of the National Health Insurance Scheme that covers the employees, their spouses and four of their dependents, immediate enrolment of Union members in the Group Life Insurance as stipulated in the Pension Reform Act 2004, Section 9(3).

The Union is also demanding immediate implementation of leave and leave allowance in accordance with international best practices, immediate negotiation on review of salaries of the workers to meet the economic reality in the country today, and immediate provision of Operational Vehicles or in the alternative immediate negotiation on review of the Self Drive/Self Rental to meet the economic reality in the country today.

Also, the Union’s demands are immediate stoppage of 24-hour jobs and introduction of work hours in accordance with international best practices, immediate stoppage of work overload (combining passive tasks to theirs) on the workers, and immediate adherence to occupational health and safety for the workers in line with international best practices.

Announcing the commencement of the strike, General Secretary of PTECSSAN Abdullahi Okonu said, “We have made every effort to engage with employers, but our legitimate demands have been disregarded.

“This strike is a last resort to protect our members’ rights and well-being. We urge the public to understand our position and support our struggle for fair treatment.”

While pleading with Nigerians to bear with the Union throughout the strike, PTECSSAN “assures that it will engage with employers and the government to resolve the issues, but the strike will continue until their demands are met.”