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SSAUTHRIAI, re-think the strike option

Workers in research institutions in the country embarked on an indefinite strike on Tuesday November 14, 2015. The three main unions involved in the industrial…

Workers in research institutions in the country embarked on an indefinite strike on Tuesday November 14, 2015. The three main unions involved in the industrial action are Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) and Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI).

The unions said their decision to proceed on strike was prompted by the government’s failure to fully implement the agreement it signed with them in January 2011. At a joint press conference in Abuja, NASU’s Secretary General Comrade Peter Adeyemi, ASURI’s General Secretary Comrade Theo Ndubuaku and SSAUTHRIAI’s General Secretary said workers lost their patience after several failed promises from government as well as the expiration of various ultimatums.

According to Adeyemi, pending issues in the agreement signed by government include a separate salary structure for research and allied institutions, non- payment of outstanding 12 months arrears of CONRAISS, approval for the review of conditions of service and non-implementation of the retirement age of 65 years. Other demands of the unions include withdrawal of the circular on non-skipping of CONTISS 10, payment of Peculiar/Earned Allowance and establishment of a central body that shall be known as National Research Institute Commission (NARICOM) for effective co-ordination of research activities in research institutes. The unions complained that, as usual, the federal government reneged on it promises.

Adeyemi further said government foisted on the unions July 1, 2010 instead of July 1, 2009 as the effective date for the new salary structure known as Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS) even though July 1, 2005 was the effective date approved for their counterparts in the universities and colleges of agriculture. He expressed regret over government’s inability to respond to the several letters written on the matter.

It would be recalled that the unions resumed their suspended strike action on August 13, 2012 which was again suspended after government constituted a high-powered committee. Government inaction again led to the resumption of the suspended strike action by the unions on February 4, 2013. The strike was again suspended after meeting with government officials. A 15-day ultimatum was issued by the unions on October 30, 2017 within which government was required to meet their demands or face a resumption of the suspended strike action.

While it is a legitimate right of workers to embark on a strike action, such hasn’t helped these three unions in actualizing their demands. The cyclical suspension and resumption of the strike action by the unions is a testimony that the strike action is no longer serving its purpose. Similarly, workers and government have both become losers. Failure to get their demands fulfilled puts workers on the losing side. Government is losing because days and weeks that should have productively been used in research activities are lost to strike; putting the country far behind others in the world of development and scientific advancement. Strikes have actually outlived their usefulness as an effective bargaining instrument for workers. This, therefore, suggests the need for the unions to re-think the strike option. They need to explore other available options to press home their demands. 

Labour unions, for instance, could take their cases to the National Industrial Court (NIC), which has the mandate to adjudicate trade disputes. The court was set up by the Trade Dispute Decree No.7 of 1976. In 2006, the National Assembly enacted the Industrial Court Act 2006 to strengthen the rules of the Court and its ability to enforce judgment. While we call on government to always honour its agreements with trade unions, it should also keep them updated especially where it is behind schedule in its implementation of the terms of the agreement. We appeal to the three research institutions’ unions to call off their current strike action and seek redress at the NIC especially that only some aspects of the agreement signed with the unions have not been implemented by government.

 

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