Labour leaders protest sack of 700 Lacasera workers

                                                         
About 700 workers of Lacasera Company Plc were recently sacked over what the management said was invasion of its premises by hoodlums.

The workers arrived at the company premises in Amuwo Odofin Industrial Estate, Mile 2, Lagos and found the gate locked with a notice of disengagement.

Lacasera is a beverage company owned by Indians and started operation in Nigeria in year 2000.

The notice dated Sept 14 and addressed to all members of staff states that, ``as a result of the unwarranted breaking-in and invasion of our business premises on Sept. 11, we cannot guarantee the wellbeing of our employees who hire hoodlums and their collaborators. As a result of this unprovoked act of vandalism, we are unable to continue operations under this circumstance.
Unfortunately we regret to inform all our staff of their immediate disengagement,’’ the notice said.

The workers under the aegis of the National union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), condemned the act, noting that some of them had worked for about five and 15 years.

Mr Mike Olarenwaju, Head of Education Department in NUFBTE, who spoke for the workers said that for 12 years, the company had denied workers the right to be unionised.

Olarenwaju said that the management of the company sacked the chairman of the in-house union which made the NUFBTE officials to visit the company on Friday, Sept 11, to speak to the workers.

``We were surprised today that the company locked the gate and sacked the workers. Meanwhile, issue between the workers and the company over unionization is currently in the National Industrial Court’’.

Olarenwaju urged the government to intervene in unfair labour practices perpetuated by foreign companies.

He said that until the workers are reabsorbed, the union would continue to picket the company.

Mr Idowu Adelakun, State Chairman of the  Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said that the act of calling labour officials hoodlums was wrong and vowed that labour would not allow the company to function until the matter was resolved.

When contacted, the Human Resource Manager of the company, identified as Chief Otemewo ,said that he was not aware of the crisis and promised to call back when he get details of the sack.

Some of their placards read; No more slavery in this country by foreigners (India); We are against Xenophobic from India and we can never be slaves in our fathers’ land.