Members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday, staged a protest at the Abuja Continental Hotel over alleged anti-union practices and labour rights violations by the hotel’s management.
Key Highlights
- TUC and NLC protest Abuja Continental Hotel over alleged anti-union practices and labour rights violations.
- Unions accused management of restricting some workers from joining trade unions.
- They cited workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
- The unions referenced Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, Trade Unions Act and ILO Conventions 87 and 98.
- Labour leaders demanded implementation of a 2022 agreement requiring the rehiring of at least 70% of workers affected by the hotel’s renovation.
The unions accused the management of preventing some categories of workers, including employees rehired after the hotel’s renovation and newly recruited staff, from joining trade unions.
The protesters described the alleged restriction as a violation of workers’ fundamental rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
The TUC and NLC said the hotel’s alleged actions were contrary to provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Trade Unions Act and international labour standards.
They specifically cited International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, which provide for freedom of association and the right to organise and engage in collective bargaining.
The unions also demanded the implementation of an agreement reached with the hotel management on October 15, 2022, particularly a commitment to re-engage at least 70 percent of workers affected by the hotel’s renovation.
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They accused the management of failing to fully honour the agreement and called for an end to what they described as unfair labour practices.
During the protest, workers and union officials displayed placards with inscriptions including “Unionization of Workers,” “Fair Treatment, Fair Pay,” “Fair Voice,” “No Intimidation,” and “No To Modern Slavery.”
The labour unions demanded immediate recognition of workers’ right to organise, improved pay and working conditions, and an end to alleged intimidation of employees seeking to join trade unions.
They also called on the hotel management to implement all aspects of the 2022 agreement, particularly the provision requiring the rehiring of no fewer than 70 percent of workers displaced by the renovation.
The unions warned that employment conditions could not lawfully be used to deprive workers of rights guaranteed under the constitution, including freedom of association and collective bargaining.
They said the protest would continue until the hotel management addressed their grievances and reached an agreement with the unions.
The TUC and NLC urged the management to engage with the unions to resolve the dispute and prevent further escalation of the industrial action.
