By Alaba Olusola Oke
The organised labour has given a 7-day ultimatum to Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital (FUTATH), to honour the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of take-off process of the hospital.
The organised labour, comprised of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ondo State, gave the warning in a letter to the hospital management on Monday in Akure.
The letter was signed by the state Chairman of TUC, Comrade Clement Fatuase and the state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Ademola Olapade.
It stated that the MoU with the state government and the labour unions must be honoured.
“We write to register our strongest condemnation of the disturbing developments that have characterised the implementation of the transition process of the FUTATH under your watch.
“The actions and omissions attributed to your office, if not immediately remedied, amount to a grave assault on the sanctity of collective bargaining.
“It is a direct affront to established principles of industrial relations, and a dangerous provocation capable of precipitating avoidable industrial unrest.
“The organised labour is particularly disturbed by the apparent breach of the MoU governing the transition process through the exclusion of workers whose names appear on the duly agreed nominal roll.
“There are reports that inherited workers were compelled to execute documents renouncing or disclaiming their membership of duly registered trade unions as a precondition for participation in the transition process.
“This conduct constitutes an unacceptable interference with the constitutional right to freedom of association as guaranteed under Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and runs contrary to internationally recognised labour standards,” it said.
The labor unions frowned at reports of intimidation, victimisation, and witch-hunting of labour leaders and trade union members solely on account of their legitimate trade union activities.
“It shall be resisted, through every lawful means any attempt to intimidate or suppress the leadership of the organised labour.
“Organised labour wishes to remind your office that trade unionism is a constitutionally protected institution, not a privilege to be granted or withdrawn at the discretion of any public officer.
“No chief executive, regardless of office, possesses the legal authority to undermine workers’ lawful right to organize or to disregard obligations arising from a duly executed agreement,” it said.
The labour unions asked the hospital management to immediately ensure the IPPIS enrolment of every worker whose name appeared on the duly authenticated nominal roll attached to the MoU, without discrimination or exclusion.
“We ask the management to cease every act capable of victimising, intimidating, or discriminating against labour leaders and TUC. You should also demonstrate full compliance with the provisions of the MoU.
“Take notice that failure to comply fully with the foregoing demands within the stipulated 7 days period shall be interpreted as a deliberate rejection of the resolutions of organised labour and a continued repudiation of the MoU.
“In that event, organised labour shall have no alternative but to immediately activate all lawful industrial dispute-resolution mechanisms available to it,” the unions warned.
Speaking with newsmen, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Olusegun Ojo, said the MOU never guaranteed automatic absorption of every existing worker of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital into the federal establishment.
“The MoU clearly states that only those found suitable would be selected. That is exactly what we have done with diligence and fairness.
“Some people were wrongly informed that everyone would automatically be absorbed into the new hospital, and that is completely untrue,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)