AS WE MARK THE 128TH
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 128th 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
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