2nd July, 2010
There is no let-up in the crisis which has bedevilled the Ota factory of De United Foods, manufacturers of Indomine Noodles.
The workers have been protesting since Monday what they called unjustified retrenchment.
When P.M.NEWS visited the place this morning, workers who had been locked out of the company’s premises, were seen in groups, expressing their grievances about their situation.
They complained that the policemen drafted in by the management of the company were harassing and beating some of the workers.
Olagunju Kazeem, the chairman of the staff union, said that the plan of the management was to sack 115 among the over 400 factory workers.
According to Kazeem, the management wants to retain the remaining staff who will in turn train contract staff only for them to be laid off later. But all the workers were united in asking for their pay-off, adding that none of them is willing to work again.
He explained that the reason the management was embarking on the retrenchment was to promote those clamouring for better welfare for the workers.
He said the workers are angry that the company’s Group Human Resources Manager and the Production Manager for the Ota factory promote anti-worker policies.
They expressed willingness to struggle on until their demands are met.
Meanwhile, efforts made by P.M.NEWS to get the company’s management for their side of the story proved abortive.
