Workers of one of the foremost dredging companies (Dredging Int’l Ltd) in Nigeria have embarked on strike, following forfeiture of their fringe benefits that have been withheld over the years by their contractors (Sylvangel, incharge of the marine workers and Ibifradson incharge of the labours).
This medium authoritatively gathered that the said company at No. 1 Kolokuma Street, Borikiri, which has other sub-subsidiaries-Emi and Bonny channel terminal contracted its labour force to the said manpower contractors after disengaging majority of its permanent staff eight years ago.
Information we received revealed that the industrial action took place inside the company’s premises on Monday, and the reason of the strike was to address issues concerning the workers’ benefits which had been withheld by the contractors, as they made onward movement to meet with the Base Manager (BM) to formerly lodge their complaint that might help to ameliorate their long time sufferings.
We gathered that while the strike was going on one of the company’s material towing tugboat catches fire without anybody setting ablaze, as the protesting contract staff also forced the main doyen staff of the company to down-tools in the expectation that they (the contract staff) might succeed in their demands on the intervention of labour unions might be possible.
Meanwhile, effort to speak with the Management of Dredging Int’l, its subsidiaries and the manpower contractors proved abortive, as the securing guards at the entrance refused to give access to our correspondent. ###
Bennett James
