9 months ago
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National President, Association of Senior Civil Servants, Tommy Etim
The Trade Union Congress says it does not believe in going on strike all the time to press home its demands.
It said it believed that a strike should be the last resort after everything else has failed.
The TUC Vice President, Tommy Etim, stated this in an interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, while answering questions on whether the TUC will join its sister union, the Nigeria Labour Congress, to proceed on another strike.
The labour unions have been locked in struggle with the Federal Government, demanding better welfare for workers amid the harsh economy stemming from government’s policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy.
Early February, the NLC and TUC gave the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to meet their demands, ranging from wage increment to improved access to public utilities.
On February 16, the NLC declared a two-day protest following the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum.
The TUC backed out of the planned two-day nationwide protest.
The NLC subsequently gave another ultimatum, threatening another strike on March 13.
Asked why the two leading labour unions seemed to be disagreeing on strikes to press home their demands, the TUC leader said the union did not believe in going on strike all the time.
Etim said, “We have not got the blessing of NEC to call for a strike.
“Strike is not a one-man call. It is a NEC decision. For any strike to be successful, it has to be a decision of NEC. No president has a right to call for a strike without getting a directive from NEC.
“Strike should not be a recurring decimal. It should be a last resort. If one keeps announcing strike upon strike, one will lose value even as a leader.”
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