Anti-Labour Practice: Nokia Workers in Nigeria Embark on Strike

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As a result of the continual indulgence of the management of Nokia Networks in anti-union activities, its workers have decided to lay down their tools and go on a 3-day warning strike.

The workers are said to have embarked on the strike as members of the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN). Speaking on the issue, the General Secretary of the association, Mr. Okonu Abdullahi said that the workers would proceed on an indefinite strike at the expiration of the warning strike, if the necessary steps are not taken.

What Actually Prompted the Strike?
Nokia Network Workers to go on Strike
Nokia Network Workers to go on Strike

 

According to Mr. Okonu, the company had resorted to a systematic casualisation of workers, in a bid to substitute formal workers with casual workers. He also accused the company of abusing the expatriates’ quota policy and was regularly replacing Nigerians with foreigners on jobs that could well be handled by nationals. More so, as all effort to have a sit-down with the management had proven futile.

The union has been calling for a review of the condition of service of employees which was last reviewed a decade ago. The management has refused to negotiate with the union. They always showed disdain and contempt for social dialogue, which would have allowed the management and the union to resolve issues facing workers.

Nokia Networks Acquired Alcatel Lucent in 2016.
Nokia Networks acquired Alcatel Lucent in 2016

Alleging further, he said that even after acquiring Alcatel lucent two years ago with the promise of giving appointment letters to the workers of the acquired company, Nokia is still yet to do so. Due to this, several of  them have had to quit  to seek employment elsewhere.

Nokia Networks (formerly Nokia Solutions and Networks, NSN) is a multinational data networking and telecommunications equipment company and wholly owned subsidiary of Nokia Corporation. Nokia Networks has operations in around 120 countries, including Nigeria.

 


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