Democratic Socialist Movement

For Struggle, Solidarity and Socialism in Nigeria

By - DSM

NUPTE AND WORKERS OF TRANEX EXPRESS PICKET COMPANY OVER ANTI-LABOUR PRACTICES

CDWR SOLIDARISES WITH WORKERS AND CALLS ON MANAGEMENT TO MEET WORKERS DEMANDS

The leadership of the National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees (NUPTE) and workers of TRANEX Express Plc picketed the company’s headquarters at Oshodi, Lagos, on Wednesday January 22, 2025. The union and workers embarked on the picketing and strike action after the management refused to meet the legitimate demands of workers. Members of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) and Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) joined the picketing in solidarity with the workers.

Workers have been at loggerheads with the management over pay and poor working conditions and anti-labour practices for over 3 years and still counting. Some of the management infractions are:

  1. Non-payment of 2024 non-accident bonus. Due to the planned picketing, the management hurriedly paid the bonus for 2023 on Tuesday January 21, 2025.
  1. Illegal 20% deduction from workers January 2024 salaries.
  1. Non-remittance of deducted pension from 2021 for some workers and from 2022 and 2023 for others.
  1. Non-remittance of Cooperative contribution for over 2 years.
  1. Refusal to pay minimum wage. The vast majority of workers earn N50,000 and below. The last time there was a marginal wage increment was about 8 years ago.
  1. Constant intimidation of workers.
Chinedu Bosah Publicity Secretary CDWR giving a solidarity message

Tranex Express Plc was established in 1983 but has suffered mismanagement in the last 25 years and this has affected the company immensely. For instance, the number of branches in Lagos used to be eight but has steadily reduced to one which even survives on an outsourced working arrangement.

Sections 4 and 11 of the Pension Reform Act mandate every management to contribute a minimum of 10% of workers’ monthly emolument and deduct 8% from workers emolument and remit both to Pension Fund Custodian within 7 working days. Failure to do so automatically attracts a penalty equivalent to a minimum of 2% of the total contribution that remains unpaid for the period of infractions. It is unfortunate that the leadership of PENCOM usually fails to penalise various defaulting managements and this has emboldened many private companies and also the public sector, for instance, the Ogun State Government, to continue the default at the expense of workers.

TRANEX workers and supporters on the picket line

The CDWR hereby calls on the management of Tranex Express Plc to immediately meet all workers demands including entering into negotiation with the union for improved pay and working conditions in general and duly remit all workers pension and Cooperative contributions.

The CDWR urges the leadership of NUPTE and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to sustain the struggle until all workers demands are met.

Rufus Olusesan

National Chairperson

Chinedu Bosah

National Publicity Secretary

CDWR email: [email protected]