Edo State PHCN Workers Clash Over Severance Package, Re-engagement

 

IT was a bloody clash yesterday between members of two unions of Benin Transmission zone of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) over allegations of betrayals in the negotiations for severance package for soon-to-be disengaged workers and re-absorption of workers by the new owners of the company.
     The fracas between members of the local chapter of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies  (SSAEAC) even led to manhandling of a cameraman and a reporter attached to a local television station and a Reporter attached to PM News Jethro Ibileke who narrowly missed being hit by a stone thrown by an unknown person from one of the floors of the six-storey building housing PHCN by Akpakpava road in the state capital.
   Another consequence of the disagreement also caused residents of Benin City and its environs to
experience power blackout for most part of yesterday as NUEE members refused to resume duty.
   All the offices of PHCN across the state were locked. One person was reported injured in the clash.
    Branch President of SSAEAC, Chris Egunyanga said one of his members was injured while they prevented NUEE from locking up the office. He said they were not part of the issues NUEE has with the PHCN management.
According to him, “We don’t have any problem. Our sister union said they have issues with the management here. They came here on Thursday, drove our members out of the office and told them not to come to work today.
   “On our part, we saw it as an affront and told them if they have issues, they can engage management but they should not involve our members. We are not part of the issue they have with management. We want to work but they said we should not work.
   He denied allegations by NUEE that his members were discussing with the new investor for Benin zone in collaboration with the management staff.
    General Secretary of NUEE, Joseph Ndem said the fracas ensued because SSAEAC stopped them from locking up the office. He accused the senior staff and management of holding secret meetings with the new investor without informing NUEE.
    “It is a labour issue. We have issued notice to the management of PHCN that we are going to shut down services until all the issues are addressed. By the time we came out to carry out the directive, our sister union also came up to tell us that we have no right to lock the office. It was on that premise that an argument ensued and degenerated into a scuffle.”
   He said all offices of the PHCN in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states controlled by the Benin office would continue to be under lock and keys until their grievances are addressed.
    Public Affairs Manager of PHCN, Babatunde Fadipe said the management would not interfere in the issue between both unions.
“It is workers way of expressing their grievances. There is no secrecy and it is the Federal Government that is responsible for handing over of the company and not the staff.”
He was silent on efforts to be made to open the office.