The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) has announced that it will embark on an indefinite strike starting April 4.
This decision comes from the alleged mistreatment of union workers by Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited’s project subcontractors,
Some of these subcontractors include Reime Group, Allstream Energy Solutions Ltd., Uppercrest Ltd., Tyllium Nigeria Ltd., and Specific Tools and Techniques Ltd.
Recall that on May 2, 2023, PTECSSAN had issued a three-day warning strike notice to Huawei Technologies, citing anti-labour practices.
PTECSSAN primarily serves its members by collaborating with private communications and telecommunications companies. The union wants to ensure that its members’ basic needs and rights are met, including access to legal counsel when needed.
According to a recent statement from Okonu Abdullahi, the union’s General Secretary, workers are made to work at odd hours without adequate security, and there are no set work hours.
“These workers are working like slaves in their own country with no entitlements commensurate with their jobs. They are made to work without work hours and risk their lives going to the field in the wee hours of the night without adequate security provided for them.”
He also said the union and the Ministry of Labour and Employment worked together to resolve the issues, but the parties involved declined to meet.
The indefinite strike could disrupt data and call services, and the union has urged Nigerians to bear with any inconvenience caused by the strike.
This could be Nigeria’s second Internet disruption in less than a month. In March 2024, many African countries, including Nigeria, faced days of Internet disruption resulting from damaged subsea cables, and Nigeria lost about ₦273 billion ($593.6 million) amid the repairs.
The union elaborated on the challenges faced by the company following the previous strike action, such as no recognition of the fundamental right of employees to freely associate, no recognition of the union as a negotiating body for employees’ welfare, and remittance of membership dues into the union’s account.
PTECSSAN identified approximately seven unresolved concerns in its recent move, including a refusal to begin negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the benefit of members.
