Lagos - Since the gun-to-throat disengagement of Six Hundred and Eighty Eight dock workers on March 2016 by management of Energy Neftegas Limited (ENL). The workers have shown resilience and doggedness in their struggle.
Beginning from when the case was in the National Industrial Court (NIC) situated at Lugard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. Hundreds of the disengaged and victimized workers, have peacefully demonstrated before the court over the inhuman exploitation Victoria Haastrup owed company have done to them.
The workers on their part have been consistence to give all political support to their legal counsel Barrister Toluwani Adebiyi. Holding protest, demonstrations, rallies in order to bite harder like a wounded Jew for the management of ENL to pay all entitlement since the collective bargaining was signed May 2008.
Several adjournment had been postponed due to the non-availability of the Judge. But in recent time on Thursday 28 June, 2018 at exactly 7:45 am prompt. The workers in their organized numbers are already in the court premises with placards and banners to demonstrate.
They gathered to chant solidarity songs and equally call on the Nigerian masses to solidarize with them in this struggle. Few hours later, the proceeding started. The ENL Legal counsel (Barrister Ami oge and Chima respectively) and Barrister Toluwani Adebiyi, the legal counsel of the victimize workers were already in the court for the ruling.
Honourable Justice Nwodo in her ruling dismissed the Plenary Objection (PO) of ENL. According to the ruling the Energy Neftegas Limited arguments of relying on the Status Bar enacted by Lagos State is not substantial enough to over-rule the Collective Bargaining (BO) of 1981 Law and the Labour Industrial Law over the matter of Collective Bargaining and other related matters of labour.
That the Sea Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) a non registered trade union organization has no business to signed Collective Bargaining according to the Trade Union Law. And as of when this agreement was signed by the tripairte bodies: NIMASA, NPA and MWUN on the implementation of N33, 000 minimum wage for all dock workers; STOAN was never part of that agreement.
Immediately after the ruling. Justice Nwodo asked both counsels whether they have witnesses to present to the Honourable Court for Hearing and Trial respectively. Chima and Ami Oge (the ENL lawyers) and Toluwani. A standing for the dock workers said "yes". A new date was then set aside for Tuesday 20/11/2018 and Wednesday 21/11/2018 respectively.
For the workers, it is a road to victory hearing the Plenary Objection of ENL being dismissed on no substantial evidence. There were a lot of jubilation among the workers organizing themselves with protest and demonstration. The Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) and the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) had been with the workers since March 2016 on this struggle.
CDWR and DSM is in full support with the 688 workers demanding for their ten years unpaid salaries and other entitlement. In the light of this, CDWR and DSM also demand for the license of all private shipping companies running casualization of labour to be withdrawn from them immediately. And for the renationalization of the Shipping Industry under the democratic control and management of all dock workers, professionals and government representative.
Copyright @Fidel Davy
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