Standoff between PHEDC Workers, Management

Four States in South-South region maybe plunged into total darkness if… 

BY ERIC OLUSESAN

Four states in the South-South region, covered by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company,PHEDC,made up,Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom and Cross-River may soon be plunged into  another round of Darkness (black out) if the management of PHEDC refuses to provide condition of service to employees.

The aggrieved workers under the aespecies  of National Union of Electricity Employees had continued it’s picketing of all the PHEDC offices yesterday in four states under it’s coverage simultaneously to press home their demands that the management should enter into acceptable template of conditions of service with employees. 

The General  Secretary of National Union Of Electricity Employees, Joe Ajaero,who led Labour leaders to picket PHEDC  in Port Harcourt in solidarity with the PHEDC Workers described as sad the kind of treatment meted out to workers without terms agreement by the management.

Ajaero stated  the Union will not sit idly and watch PHEDC treat Nigeria workers likes slaves in the 21st century. Some of their demands includes: the signing of proper condition of service for workers.

He warned that as long as the management of PHEDC reneges on the agreement with Workers, the workers will stop the distribution of power, revenue collection and attending to Customers’ faults.

Speaking on behalf of the Management the Public Relations Officers,PRO, Of PHEDC, John Onyi assured that the management will enter into negotiation with the protesting workers/labour leaders with a view to meeting the demands of workers. He promised to furnish us with details of the resolutions at the end of the negotiations with the unions.
At the time of filing this report,it was not clear if the management had started negotiating with workers.