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Socialist DemocracyMay 2006
PARCO ENTERPRISES: RIPE FOR PICKETINGOver 90 percent of the workers of PARCO Enterprises, situated at Gemini Block, Eleganza Plaza, Apapa, Lagos, and its subsidiaries are casual and contract workers - condemned to perpetual slavery without any hope of improved welfare and working condition. In response to the resolve of workers of the company to unionise, in respect of the constitutional and fundamental rights to form and belong to association of their choice, the management sacked over 35 workers including the entire leadership of the union between July 14 and August 19, 2005. In the countdown to the planned picketing of the company and its subsidiaries by the NLC Anti Casualisation Committee with the support from NUSDE and the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR), Ms Gloria Enebe, one of the victimised workers, spoke with the Socialist Democracy on their struggle with the management of the company among other related issues. Below are excerpts from the interview: ON PARCO"The struggle started in June 2003, when we decided to form and belong to a trade union. After we succeeded in our resolve in June 2005, the management decided to throw us out because they believed we were the masterminds. They actually never wanted us to have a union. I think a struggle like this is worth sustaining, no matter what it will take. We have been out of work for more than 8 months now, but we want to have victory and we believe that by the grace of God we will. We are very hopeful that the struggle will succeed; all we need is for NLC and NUSDE to come fully into the struggle. I think the anti-workers policies of the PARCO management are very cruel. They believe they have the money and the power and that nobody can save the worker. I believe that if NLC can renew its effort in this struggle we will be victorious and our victory will teach the boastful management a lesson and make them and other managements to respect the rights of workers. The PARCO management believes that we don't have laws in Nigeria or that it is above the law, simply because it feels that money can buy or bribe everybody that workers look up to for the protection and enforcement of workers rights. Labour unions should come all out to enforce labour laws, as it should be. Labour laws are being respected internationally, why is it that in Nigeria the reverse is the case? These company owners and managers should be made to respect workers rights as well as human rights. Nigeria is not a "banana republic" where laws are not respected and where anything and everything goes. The management believes that if we have a union we will have a say and will be able to challenge and agitate against the deplorable and inhuman working conditions we are condemned to. It never wanted us as workers under its employment to speak with one voice or to be united. It always wants to have its way without any opposition from workers especially because it does not regard us or see us as anything." ON LABOUR AND CASUALISATION"The Nigeria Labour Congress as a body has all the room for improvement if they wish to. If actually they have come to do humanitarian work they should look into this casualisation problem and do all they can to save humanity. Unfortunately, most labour union people are more interested in money than serving humanity. Why is it that Nigerian labour leaders are so interested in money than serving humanity? Why is it that they no longer take seriously the welfare of workers, is that how labour leaders work in other parts of the world? My advice to all labour leaders is that they should leave a good legacy for tomorrow's leaders to emulate so that workers will not continue to work and struggle in vain. I will advise all labour leaders and labour unions to join hands in the struggle against casualisation. Like the book launch by CDWR that was held; all labour unions should have been represented. Unfortunately, most of them were not there. Casualisation is in every industry, even in the banking sector. This struggle against casualisation should be waged not only for us but also for future generations. Labour leaders today cannot guarantee where their family and relations will work forever. Casualisation can affect anybody if not checked." Editors Note: Due to the constraint of space, we could not carry the full interview. For the full version please visit www.socialistnigeria.org.
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