Ibadan, workers of Shoprite at the Ring Road branch of the Oyo State capital, went on another round of protest on Friday, shutting down the company to press down their demands.
The workers, who operated under the umbrella of the National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees (NUSDE), maintained that the company would remain shut until the management gives a listening ear to their demands.
Mr Williams Peter, NUSDE Chairman, Shoprite branch, disclosed that the union was using the Easter period to press home its demands since dialogue had failed.
He revealed that all Shoprite stores across the nation had been shut down as a result of a failed negotiation between the union and the management..
Peter then attributed the indefinite strike to the alleged refusal of the management to meet up with the demands of the union.
Stating that though the planned transfer of Shoprite to a new investor had been withheld for now, “we see this Easter period as the right time to get management to listen to us and yield to our demands.
“However, if the management is not ready to listen to us, it then means that Shoprite is not ready to open this April. We will shut the company down until they listen to us.
“Give us what we want and we will then be ready to discuss with the new investors and have a new agreement with them,” the union leader said.
Meanwhile, in a memo by its Divisional Human Resources Manager, Adeola Kagho, the management of the company described the industrial action embarked upon by the workers as ‘unlawful’.
Saying it was considering appropriate actions to be taken against the striking workers, which might include their summary dismissal, should they fail to return to work.
The statement Reads: “Please note that your conduct is in breach of your contract of employment, company rules and procedures and the applicable federal legislation.
“The company is not prepared to tolerate your participation in any unlawful industrial action.
“The company is now considering appropriate action to be taken against you and this may include your summary dismissal, should you disregard the instruction/ultimatum hereunder.
“You are accordingly instructed to return to work immediately in an orderly and diligent manner,” Kagho said.
READ ALSO: Return To Work Or Risk Sack, Shoprite Tells Striking Workers
She advised the workers to follow the established company’s internal procedure, should they wish to raise any grievance.
The union’s demands include better conditions of service and payoff whenever the company decides to change its ownership.
The union had earlier embarked on a warning strike on March 2.
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