From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Electricity workers, yesterday, paralysed business activities by staging a peaceful protest at the office of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, accusing it of practising anti-labour action.
The workers ironically, condemned PHEDC for issuing customers estimated electricity bills monthly, stressing that injustice meted out on their staff members and customers should stop.
Yesterday’s protest came barely a week after electricity consumers demonstrated in Port Harcourt, over “outrageous monthly bills” given by PHEDC. Again, another protest by residents of some parts of Port Harcourt, yesterday, coincided with the picketing of PHEDC office along Moscow Road, by electricity workers.
President, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Mr. Martin Uzoegwu, who spoke during the demonstration, flayed the firm for failing to obey the recent rulings of the National Industrial Court.
“We are gathered here today because PHED has refused to implement the rulings of the National Industrial Court. It has been able to perpetrate anti-labour action, especially against its workers and labour, as an organisation is saying no to this.
“That is why we are here to show our concerns and to picket the headquarters of PHED. We are saying that enough is enough for this injustice meted out on these people.
“The court is saying that PHED should allow workers to unionise and the company is owing us check-off dues since 2013. The check-off dues have been deducted and they have not submitted it. That is a criminal act and that is why we are here to tell them to do the right thing,” Uzoegwu declared.
Also, Deputy President, South-South, NUEE, Chris Omonei, stated that it was wrong for customers to pay for electricity without getting the service.
Omonei stated: “Our reason for being here is that the masses want electricity. The people cannot be paying for darkness. We’re made to understand that the company is rejecting load from the national grid. The company has been giving consumers estimated bills. If there is no meter, consumers will not pay estimated bills.
“PHED must allow workers to unionise. We saw attempts to use some workers to disrupt this protest. We had gone to court in the past on the issue of unionisation and PHED lost. But, the company does not want to obey the rule of law. It wants to promote anarchy.
Another State official, Charles Eletu, Rivers State Chairman, frowned at the management of PHEDC for denying their workers opportunity to belong to workers’ union.
Eletu said: “We are here to ensure that the rights of PHED workers are not breached. The way PHED has been treating the workers and the consumers is not acceptable.
“All of us are aware that consumers pay for meter, but it will always take PHED time to issue out meters that have been paid for. Both of us are also witnesses to the outrageous bills given to consumers. Then, we come to the workers, who are not given the right to unionise.
“There is random sacking of workers without due process. Even the ones that the court had ordered that the workers should be reinstated, PHED has decided not to do anything. Does that mean we no longer obey the rule of law in this country?
“So, the United Labour Congress has decided to take this action that PHED must be picketed today and if they (PHED) decide to be stubborn, we may consider going on a nationwide strike to make sure that workers have their right and the consumers are also treated normally.
“The Federal and the State Governments should come and ensure that these companies (electricity distribution companies) are called to order. Why would consumers pay for meters and PHED would find it difficult to provide the metres? Outrageous bills every now and then, illegal men working for them. Workers working for them are not recognised. Allow them to unionise; no way. We are not happy about it”, Eletu expressed.