The management of Intels Nigeria Limited at Onne Port, Rivers State and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) are heading for a showdown following the sacking of 600 workers by the company.
The affected workers were said to be in its Rivers and Warri operational areas.
The MWUN has, in reaction to the firings, issued a seven-day ultimatum to Intels management to recall the sacked workers or face total shutdown of its operations.
The Secretary-General of MWUN, Felix Akingboye, issued the threat in a letter to the management of Intels Nigeria Limited in Onne Port through its Regional Human Resources Manager, Mr. M. Ndon and obtained by journalists in Abuja on Wednesday evening.
In the memo, MWUN said the firm terminated its contract with Associate Maritime Services (AMS), its subsidiary, which led to the disengagement of over 600 workers without recourse to the union for the negotiation of their terminal benefits.
The letter maintained that the oppressive labour practice was unacceptable to the union, thereby issuing a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw letters of termination and redundancy to the workers and recall them to duty.
It said the failure of Intels to recall the workers, the union is compelled to withdraw the services of its members from the company’s terminal at the expiration of the notice.
The letter said the company had recently declared 30 workers redundant.
The letter reads, “Over the years, the welfare benefits of your employees (Intels Nig. Ltd.) and that of your subsidiary Company, AMS, has always been the product of joint negotiation between your Management and the Union. In other words, the employees of the Principal (Intels Nigeria Ltd) and its subsidiary AMS enjoy the same welfare benefits.
“Recently, your management declared about 30 of its employees redundant and the union was duly consulted, and a joint communiqué between management and the union was issued after due negotiation. Regrettably, however, we are informed that your management has terminated its contract with AMS which has led to over 600 workers (who are our members) being declared redundant without due recourse to the Union for the negotiation of their terminal benefits.
“Letters of termination/redundancy, we are informed, had already been served on the workers. This unfair labour practice is not acceptable to us.
“I have been directed to issue your management with a seven-day notice, effective from the date of this ultimatum, within which to withdrawal all the letters of termination/redundancy served on the workers and recall them to duty, otherwise, we shall be compelled to withdraw our services from your terminal at the expiration of the notice.
“We demand that status quo ante should remain pending when a management/union meeting is convened to negotiate their exit and payment of terminal benefits.”