SECURITY ALERT WITH JIDE

Senate divided over bill to control labour strikes

The Senate failed to reach an agreement on whether or not labour union leaders should be stopped from taking unilateral decisions on industrial action.

Leading the debate on a bill seeking an act to further amend the Trade Unions Act 2005 (as amended) to make provisions for ballot as a requirement before any action taken by trade unions and other matters connected therewith, Heineken Lokpobori (PDP, Bayelsa West) said workers have the right to go on strike and that the National Assembly had made a law protecting the employees who have legitimate right where there is a legitimate trade dispute to go on strike.”

He said there have to be a consensus between the employee and the union on whether or not to embark on the strike and “the only way that can be done is for ballot to be introduced.”

“The gamut of this amendment is to bring the practice of industrial action in trade unionism in line with global best practices as obtainable in Great Britain, USA, Canada, France, Belgium, South Africa, etc.”

“The requirement of agreement on the part of a simple majority of the members of a union makes it imperative for a ballot as contained in this proposed amendment. This amendment accordingly provides that an act done by a trade union to induce a person to take part in industrial action should have the support of a ballot. For any strike to see the light of the day, it should enjoy the well-intentioned support of members of the unions,” Mr Lokpobori said.

Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu), Bassey Otu (PDP, Cross River South) and Ita Enang (PDP, Akwa Ibom North East), described the bill as necessary in view of the perceived politicization of labour-related issues in the country, saying it was meant to sanitize the processes of industrial action, rather than prevent workers from going on strike.

Opposing the bill, Smart Adeyemi (PDP, Kogi West), James Manager (PDP, Delta South), Olufemi Lanlehin (ACN, Oyo South), Joshua Dariye (LP, Plateau Central) and Chris Ngige (ACN, Anambra) called for the withdrawal of the bill, arguing that it would deprive the workers of their right to oppose any unpopular government policies.

“Trade unions protect their members’ interests, and they have their own constitutions which stipulate the processes of industrial actions. Labour leaders often consult members and other stakeholders before calling for any strike,” Mr Adeyemi said.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Wilson Ake (PDP, Rivers West) said the bill was aimed at streamlining the processes of strike, suggesting that it be subjected to a public hearing; while Ahmed Makarfi (PDP, Kaduna North), who described the bill as ill-timed, said it would be misunderstood.

The Senate President, David Mark said since the bill was mainly looking at the processes of calling for strike, the debate should be taken to a logical conclusion rather than withdraw the bill. The bill, which failed to pass a second reading, was, therefore, deferred to another legislative day.