NUPENG assures its members that it will continue to fight and resist the modern day slavery

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG
THE struggle must continue until victory is achieved was the thrust of felicitation messages by unions to members during yesterday’s May Day celebration.
From the Organization African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, among others, the message was for workers to remain undaunted in the face of  increasing inhuman policies and practices by government and employers.
Struggle not over in a message by NUEE’s General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, the union saluted the tenacity of purpose of members in the struggle to liberate Nigerian workers and masses from economic slavery, noting that hope was rekindled for a better tomorrow after recalling the sacrifices made by Chicago workers and other workers of the world over one hundred years ago,
According to the union “The last few years has been characterized with struggle for the survival of our industry.  The campaign of calumny and name-calling orchestrated against us has been unprecedented.  While  the use of state apparatus to cow us assumed a large dimension, attempts to burn our National Secretariat was also made within this period. Despite these odds, we have remained resolute in pursuing our struggle against all forms of oppression.  God in His infinite mercy has been our strong tower. We salute the courage and resilience of our members for the rare commitment and painstaking efforts of fighting for the emancipation of electricity workers.
“Electricity workers in Nigeria are no doubt hard working and resourceful; given the industrial climate that pervade in their operations. Already negotiations have been concluded while the onus to implement in accordance with the dictates of the agreement reached now lies on Government.  However, new attempts are being made to short-change workers in the Sector.  It is therefore regrettable that Nigerian Government is approaching privatization without cash backing.
The Government is equally planning to close down Corporate Headquarters immediately after May Day and embark upon wide scale retrenchment without recourse to agreement reached with the Unions.   If this happens, please stay away from your offices until otherwise directed.”
It added “the fact that we are alive to celebrate this workers day calls for joy even with our prestigious award. The era of deceit and inverted impunity is over.  This struggle is not over until it is over. Injury to one is injury to all.”
Similarly, NUPENG in a message by its President, Achese Igwe and Acting General Secretary, Isaac Aberare, said “We salute the courage and resilience of oil workers despite the provocations by the employers. NUPENG assures its members that it will continue to fight and resist the modern day slavery, called casualisation/outsourcing.  We will continue to protect our members from intimidation, harassment and fight for better conditions of service. The union will not rest on its oars in the quest to unionise oil workers, as the freedom of association is enshrined in the constitution.
As we celebrate the May Day 2013, we urge the federal government to speed up the turn-around-maintenance of the four refineries in Port Harcourt 1,2, Kaduna and Warri, so that the over dependence on imported  petroleum products will be reduced to the barest minimum.  We cannot be creating jobs for workers outside the shores of the country, when we have an army of unemployed youths.”
It added that “the state of our infrastructures, like roads, and energy should be taken seriously, so that the economy can be turned around, which will generate employment.  Be that as it may, we greet our members and Nigerian workers as the struggle continues.”

A struggle that must be won

Meanwhile, OATUU,  in its message to African workers,  urged workers to join OATUU in mobilizing for the consolidation of democracy, social justice, peace, respect for labour and human rights, promotion of full employment and equality in Africa
The message by its General Secretary, Owei Lakemfa, recalled the tragic events in Chicago, United States in May 1886 in which workers were killed, many injured, and some labour leaders hanged.
According to him, this action was “meant to discourage trade unionism and destroy the Labour Movement. Rather, it further unified workers, strengthened our unity and has become a symbol for workers solidarity and struggle to improve their conditions of work and life.”
 ”May Day has become a day workers march in unison, conscious of their oneness, their pivotal role in society and their labour power. It is also an occasion when  Labour  recalls the great sacrifices made by the working class in all countries to empower  the populace and assert the fundamental human rights of all peoples.
 Like other workers, African workers have made tremendous sacrifices including against colonialism and exploitation, and for the socio – economic and political emancipation of their countries and our continent.
Each epoch has its own demands for struggle and each generation has its mission.