STICKY PICKETS: ORGANIZED LABOR MAY BECOME A

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000589 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOL FOR ANNE ZOLLNER STATE FOR DRL LAUREN HOLT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PGOV PREL NI SUBJECT: STICKY PICKETS: ORGANIZED LABOR MAY BECOME A MISNOMER IN NIGERIA -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. Nigerian organized labor is still having problems gathering the consensus necessary to initiate action on a national-scale. Since mid-March, the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) has routinely postponed plans for a national picketing campaign to protest unfair labor practices. Possible reasons include the March 2005 amendment to the Trade Union Act, which decentralized the NLC; uncertainty about future leadership now that NLC President Adams Oshiomhole has announced his step-down come 2007; and the direct involvement of Ministry of Labor Permanent Secretary Dr. Timi Korikpamo-Agary. End Summary. -------------- Pickets Stuck in Planning Stages -------------- ¶2. Since mid-March, the NLC futilely has been planning a massive picketing campaign against businesses located throughout Nigeria to protest unfair labor practices. Several affiliate unions, from Kaduna to Asaba, have been complaining to the NLC's National Executive Council (NEC) of arbitrary firings, intimidation of workers, and withholding of benefits and/or promised wage increases. The complaints grew loud enough to pressure the NLC to promise their constituents action on a national level. ¶3. Rather than a national strike, the NLC decided local chapters of affiliate unions in banking, textile, airline, retail, and media industries accused of unfair practices would picket branch offices of the offending companies. The NLC said the demonstrations would be peaceful, and not involve striking or preventing non-affiliated workers from working. Action was promised first on April 5, then postponed to April 12. Still unable to organize properly, the NLC declared a meeting between its President and the Presidents and General Secretaries of all industrial unions affiliated with the NLC on Wednesday, April 19. At the meeting, the NLC decided to picket companies in two phases. The NLC then put off action until after planned May Day festivities on May 1. -------------- -------------- Decentralization of Unions Hampers Ability to Organize -------------- -------------- ¶4. Through legislation enacted March 2005, the GON broke the NLC "monopoly" as the country's only legally recognized labor organ and allowed other organizations to operate independently. The law also banned nationwide strikes. So far, only the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has taken advantage of the new law and received recognition as an alternate central labor organization to the NLC. The TUC represents mostly senior staff and has a more moderate approach to labor action and a more pro-GON stance. During the September 2005 fuel price hike, the TUC helped block the NLC's attempts to gather popular support for a strike. In contrast, between 2002 and 2004, the NLC had been able to organize three highly successful national strikes. ¶5. Cracks in the NLC/TUC relationship continue to surface, despite labor's adamant assertion of a unified front. The TUC even withdrew from the NLC's nationwide May Day celebration over a disagreement concerning the President's alleged third-term agenda. -------------- -------------- Oshiomhole's Unsettled Future Disrupts Labor Solidarity -------------- -------------- ¶6. At the May 1 Workers Day rally, NLC President Adams Oshiomhole announced he would step down from his position in ¶2007. Representatives of the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA),the Ministry of Labor, and the Michael Imoudou Institute for Labor Studies (MINILS) believe his departure will create a power vacuum that will disrupt organized labor in the country and seriously dilute its power. ¶7. Oshiomhole rose to prominence because of his ability to rally popular opposition to government policies widely seen as unfair. He used the NLC as a vehicle to advocate not only workers rights but also human rights during military rule. However, Oshiomhole has a cordial relationship with President Obasanjo. Many hardliners in the labor movement have privately criticized Oshiomhole for being coopted by Obasanjo LAGOS 00000589 002 OF 002 and that his softening in his opposition to government has damaged labor's unity. ¶8. Oshiomhole refused to comment when asked by Poloff about his position on a "third term" for Obasanjo, although, once prompted by activists, publicly rejected the idea of a third term at the May 1 rally. NLC Deputy General Secretary Denja Yaqub claims Oshiomhole is still undecided whether to announce candidacy for the governorship of his home state of Edo. A TUC leader made it clear there would be no consensus position from labor on a third term. He said, lacking a viable alternative candidate, Nigeria would do worse if they got rid of Obasanjo. -------------- -------------- Perm Sec Agary Provides Constructive, Moderating Influence -------------- -------------- ¶9. In a March 19 press conference, NLC spokesman Bright Anokwuru lambasted industry and unveiled the picketing plan. But he also complimented Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Labor, Dr. Timi Korikpamo-Agary, for pushing employers to honor commitments to allow workers to unionize freely, specifically in the banking and finance industries. (Note. Agary was educated at the University of North Carolina. She is energetic and committed to seeing Nigeria's record on worker rights improve, especially in terms of USG annual Human Rights and Labor reporting. End Note.) ¶10. Agary is responsible for preparing five new industrial relations bills to streamline the labor dispute arbitration process, and she hope they will soon be submitted to the National Assembly for enactment. She also enjoys wide acceptance as an arbitrator, registering recent successes in the banking, petroleum, and aviation sectors. While labor leaders and employers have been reluctant to submit disputes to the legally mandated Nigerian Industrial Court (NIC) or Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) because of corruption and inefficiency, most parties are willing to deal with Agary directly. ¶11. The newly elected President of the oil workers' senior staff union, PENGASSAN, regarding a dispute with Exxon Mobil over allowances and pension claims, said his union would wait for word from Agary before deciding to strike, despite "counterproductive" actions on the part of the company. Agary also intervened in bitter disputes over arbitrary firings between the aviation workers union, NUATE, and Lufthansa airlines and over compensation with the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). (Note. Lufthansa is one of the businesses targeted in the planned picketing campaign. End Note.) -------------- Comment -------------- ¶12. A year after the passage of a new labor law, its consequences are becoming clearer. The labor sector is weakening, speaking discordantly with many voices. This was a primary goal of the law, and the GON has succeeded in achieving this objective. Now the GON will feel more able to take unpopular action with regard to fuel subsidies without being as concerned as before about a possible labor-led national strike. With the danger of widespread strikes now minimized, the GON can move forward with more economic reforms. But, this has come at a cost of weakening the unions in their protection of core workers rights as well. Ministry Permanent Secretary Agary has now become a focal point for resolution of labor disputes. We hope her influence can counterbalance to some degree the negative effect the weakening of the labor sector may have on fundamental workers rights in Nigeria. BROWNE