Protests as Lacasera fires 700 workers

It was learnt that scores of workers at Lacasera Company Plc staged a
protest on Monday in Lagos, moments after about 700 workers received
their sack letters, theNews Agency of Nigeriareports.
The company, however, described the protest as an invasion of its
premises by "hoodlums.''
NANreported that the crisis began after the workers arrived at the
company premises in Amuwo Odofin Industrial Estate, Mile 2, Lagos, and
found the gate locked against them and a notice of disengagement
pasted at the entrance.
The notice dated September 14 and addressed to all members of staff,
stated that "as a result of the unwarranted invasion of our business
premises on September 11, we cannot guarantee the well-being of our
employees from hired hoodlums and their collaborators.
"As a result of this unprovoked act of vandalism, we are unable to
continue operations under this circumstance.
"Unfortunately we regret to inform all our members of staff of their
immediate disengagement."
But the workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Food,
Beverage and Tobacco Employees, condemned the act, noting that some of
them had worked for between five and 15 years.
Some of their placards read, "No more slavery in this country by
foreigners (India); "We are against xenophobia from India" and "We can
never be slaves in our fatherland."
The Head of Education Department in NUFBTE, Mr. Mike Olarenwaju, who
spoke for the workers, said that for 12 years the company had denied
workers the right to unionise.
Olarenwaju said that when an in-house union was about to be
inaugurated, the management of the company sacked the chairman, which
made the NUFBTE officials to visit the company on September 11 to
address the workers.
"We were surprised today (Monday) that the company locked the gate and
sacked the workers.
"Meanwhile, the case between the workers and the company over
unionisation is currently at the National Industrial Court.''
He said that until the workers were re-absorbed, the union would
continue to picket the company.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Idowu Adelakun,
toldNANthat the act of calling labour officials hoodlums was wrong and
vowed that labour would not allow the company to function until the
matter was resolved.
Lacasera is a beverage company owned by Indians which started
operations in Nigeria in year 2000.
Firstclassnewsline.net