30th March, 2011
Workers of Veevee Industry, producers of packaging cartons, have embarked on strike to protest the company’s management’s failure to implement the new minimum wage.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS during the protest which was staged in front of the company at Kilometre 2, Ijoko Road, Sango Ota, the union’s assistant secretary, Mr. Olumide Showunmi, said that instead of N20,000 monthly salary being demanded by the workers, the company’s management insists on paying N10,000 which, according to Olumide, is noting to write home about.
Besides, he said workers are made to work from 7 a.m to 7 p.m under very harsh conditions.
Reacting to the allegations, the Personnel Manager of the company, Mr. Ajao Abiodun, said the company regrets the situation on ground, adding that there is negotiation going on with the national body of the union and that both parties have not arrived at a conclusion before the workers decided to down their tools. He appealed to the workers to return to work while both parties seek amicable solution to the problem.
When P.M.NEWS visited the company, policemen from Sango Police Station were seen patrolling the company premises to maintain peace and order.
—Yusuf Mohammed