MAY DAY: JAF STATEMENT ON THE STATE OF THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

 AS WE MARK THE 128^TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORKERS’ DAY 2014

We in the Joint Action Front (JAF) salute the Nigerian working people and the poor oppressed classes as we mark the 128^th Anniversary of MAY DAY. We equally salute the working people all over the world.

Our reflection on the state of the trade union movement in Nigeria revealed that Nigerian workers over the years have been weakened organizationally and ideologically by the anti-worker policies of global neo-liberalism. This has been responsible for reduction in the numerical strength of the unions, attacks on jobs, indecent work conditions and environment, poor and slave wages and violations of workers’ rights as guaranteed by local and international labour instruments.

The sad aspect of the above prevalence is that the leadership of Nigerian trade unions across board have not lived up to the expectations of the Nigerian working people in organizing against the inimical policies of the neo-liberal policies of privatization, deregulation, casualisation, contract staffing, etc.

Therefore, the critical challenges before the Nigerian trade union movement are:

1.    The need for renewed commitment to the ideological and political education development of the rank and file workers in the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

2.    Trade unions need to regain its credibility by fighting against the policies of privatization and deregulation, against violation of collective agreements by Government, against obnoxious laws and policies aimed at undermining the working people, against policies violating the rights of workers and sharp corrupt atrocities, etc.

3.    A trade union movement that should be committed to organizing the unemployed and the informal sector workers.

4.    A trade union movement that should be prepared at all times to provide leadership in the defence of the interest of the working people and oppressed classes against hike in fuel prices, electricity tariffs, excessive taxation and other infringements that undermine the living conditions of the oppressed classes in the country.

5.    A trade union movement that should develop an Agenda for the unemployed and social security, decent work and living wage and that should ensure that employers and Government implement collective agreements reached with workers.

6.    A trade union movement that would be committed to struggle to ensure that Agreements reached with the polytechnic and colleges of education striking workers (ASUP, SSANIP and COEASU) and the entitlements due to the Pensioners, are implemented to the fullest.

7.    A trade union movement that will be committed to providing leadership for a nationwide struggle against the policies of privatization and deregulation, and for full industrialization that should ensure massive employment and expansion of infrastructure.

8.    A trade union movement that is prepared to work with its main partner in the civil society – JAF – under the platform of Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) towards the emergence of a genuine mass party of the working class and the poor as the political alternative to the political parties of the ruling class of exploiters.

FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!!

                                

Dr. Oladipo Fashina                                  Comrade Abiodun Aremu

JAF Chairperson                                       JAF Secretary

JAF ENDORSES APRIL 29 ASUP-COEASU’s MASS RALLY IN ABUJA!

-          DECLARES the MAY DAY in LAGOS as PROTEST DAY for the REVERSAL of HIKE IN FEES IN LASU, LASPOLY & AOCOED!

-          DEMANDS ADEQUATE FUNDING OF ALL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN LAGOS!! 

 

1.    The general meeting of the Joint Action Front (JAF) held Sunday, April 27^th and discussed, among other issues, the lingering strikes by academic staffs in the polytechnics and colleges for education across the country.

2.    The meeting noted that the Unions have been on strike because the Federal and State Governments FAILED to IMPLEMENT agreements they freely entered into and signed with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) in 2009 and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) in 2010. ASUP and Senior Staff Association of Polytechnics (SSANIP), first, had a strike that lasted from April to July 2013, when it was suspended. The current strike began in October 2013; while COEASU had a warning Strike in September 2013 before the current strike that started in December 2013.

3.    JAF notes that the basic demands of ASUP and SSANIP as contained in the 2009 Agreements signed with the Government(s) have been: on the need for a National Polytechnic Commission that will regulate education standards in the polytechnics, Non-Commencement of the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUP Agreements as contained in the signed 2009 Agreement and Failure by the FG to release the White Paper on the Visitations to the Polytechnics.

4.    The core demands of COEASU are: Government’s REFUSAL to implement 2010 Agreement, to carry out NEEDS Assessment of Colleges of Education, and to commence re-negotiation of the Agreement.

5.    JAF declares its TOTAL SUPPORT for the ongoing strike actions by ASUP, SSANIP, and COEASU and demand that the Federal Government and State Governments concerned in the management of the various tertiary institutions should IMPLEMENT without further delay the Agreements reached with the various unions.

6.    JAF declares its TOTAL SUPPORT for the MASS RALLY organized by ASUP and COEASU holding tomorrow, April 29^th 2014 at the Federal Secretariat, FCT, Abuja. We urge Nigerians and all stakeholders in the education sector at the primary, secondary and tertiary institution levels, including students, parents, and affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) and groups in the informal sector (artisans, traders, women, etc) to participate actively.

7.    JAF will seek further consultations with the leadership of ASUP, SSANIP, COEASU, NLC and TUC on further plan of actions to compel the FG and State Governments not only to IMPLEMENT to the fullest Agreements reached the unions but also, to accord adequate funding to the polytechnics and colleges of education.

JAF Declares the MAY DAY in LAGOS as PROTEST DAY for the REVERSAL of HIKE in FEES IN LASU, LASPOLY & AOCOED!

8.    In furtherance of our SAVE PUBLIC EDUCATION campaign that was started on August 13^th 2013 with a MASS RALLY in Lagos; and subsequent Mass Protests in Calabar, Abeokuta, etc; JAF hereby DECLARES May 1^st 2014 as a MAY DAY OF PROTEST IN LAGOS.

9.    JAF urges all workers in the affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), the informal sector workers, artisans, traders, women, professionals, students in primary, secondary and tertiary institution levels, parents, etc, to MARCH ENMASS to the Onikan Stadium, Lagos on Thursday, May 1^st with their placards, banners, protest songs and souvenirs; to demand:

·       Reversal in school fees hike in LASU, Lagos State Polytechnics and Lagos State Colleges of Education.

·         Adequate Funding of LASU, LASPOLY and AOCOED.

·         RESPECT for the 20-point Demands by LASU ASUU.

FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!

Dr. Oladipo Fashina                    Comrade Abiodun Aremu

JAF Chairperson                           JAF Secretary