Tina Amanda
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC’s staff, have been assured of better working conditions as the Management issued condition of service to the Electricity Workers Union, after months of disagreement.
President General, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, Comrade Chris Okonkwo, who stated this to our correspondent Tina Amanda, shortly after the exchange of staff condition of service between the Union and PHEDC Management in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said PHEDC staff have now been officially employed after seven years working as casuals.
According to him, PHEDC Management has before now, been relating to it’s staff base on Company policy, rather than the condition of service applicable to Labour law, which has deprived Electricity Workers of their rights.
“The staff of PHEDC have been officially employed, they worked for seven years without condition of service, but today we have broken all obstacles to make sure we give Electricity workers basis of employment.
“Before now, staff have no right and were been cheated, the Company was doing things based on their own initiative not based on agreement, because there was no agreement, PHED was using what they called Company policy, sacking staff anyhow.
“It was a battle for these seven years and we believe by signing the staff condition of service today, we have overcome challenges of unjust treatment melted out on the Company workers”
Comrade Okonkwo however noted that the hand over of the condition of service to the Union is a landmark achievement to Electricity workers, as it has taking them seven years to achieve, while urging Union workers to be steadfast in the discharge of their duties.
He stressed that the Union is also deliberating with PHEDC Management for the reinstatement of the Branch President of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, Comrade Paulinus Aniedi, who was unjustly sacked from work.
On his part, Manager Corporate Communications Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, John Onyi, explained that the condition of service guarantees workers better relationship, adding that it is a mutual agreement between the Management and staff.
“It is a remarkable day were the Management of PHEDC and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC have exchange condition of service and it has been duly handed over. The importance of it cannot be over emphasized, it is a guiding rule that guide’s both the employer and employee.
“We have sent out the condition of service, everybody now knows what is right and what is embedded in the condition of service”
Recall that Electricity Workers Union had on May 30th, 2020, cried out against an alleged plans of PHEDC to sack over one hundred and twenty staff, and for the failure of the Management to sign staff condition of service.
