NAN-H-75
Demands
Pankhsin (Plateau), April 3, 2017 (NAN) Mr Makolo Yakubu, Controller of Labour in the Plateau office of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, has advised union leaders to always be “realistic and considerate”, when making demands.
“Union leaders have the advantage of knowing what the Federal Government can afford and what is not possible; their demands should be realistic to avoid industrial crisis,” Yakubu said on Monday in Pankshin, Plateau State.
Yakubu spoke at a two-day meeting organised by members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Federal College of Education, Pankshin chapter.
The controller said that it was “natural” for labour leaders to seek improved working conditions for members, but advised them to consider what is available for the employers to work with.
“Let us be very frank; it will only amount to an exercise in futility if any trade union embarks on strike over what it knows its employer cannot afford.
“When you know, for instance, that the wage increase you are asking for, cannot be met by your employer, it is not wise or fair to insist on such an increase because it will lead to industrial disharmony that will benefit no one,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr. Amos Cirfat, Provost, Federal College of Education, Pankshin, advised trade unions to always guard against any industrial crisis capable of distracting their organisations from set goals.
The provost, who was represented by the Deputy Provost, Mrs. Margaret Jatau, commended NASU for its effort toward industrial peace over the years.
Cirfat said that strikes had often retarded progress, and called on trade unions to always embrace dialogue in the settlement of disputes.
In his address, Mr Jeremiah Dimlong, NASU chairman in the college, said that the meeting was aimed at challenging members to look inward toward working out measures to improve the lot of members. (NAN)
TYC/OIF/ETS
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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Ephraims Sheyin