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From Adanna Nnamani and Francis Onyedikachukwu, Abuja
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Monday shut the gate of Abuja Continental Hotel, protesting alleged violations of workers’ rights, unfair labour practices and poor working conditions.
The protest was led by the Hotel and Personal Services Senior Staff Association (HAPSSSA), an affiliate of the TUC, with workers and union officials converging on the hotel as early as 6 a.m. to demand improved working conditions and the right to unionise.
The union members attempted to gain access to the hotel premises but were stopped by security personnel, after which they commenced picketing at the entrance and prevented access to the premises.
There was a heavy presence of security personnel, including the police and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), as the union members maintained their protest.
Speaking with journalists at the protest, TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, said the action became necessary because the workers were allegedly being denied their fundamental rights, particularly the right to unionise and engage in collective bargaining.
Toro said, “Workers are being treated as slaves in Abuja Continental. Their rights have been violated. They are not allowed to exercise their fundamental human rights. And that is why we are here.”
According to him, the union had made efforts to resolve the dispute amicably, including writing to the hotel management on August 4 to request a meeting.
He, however, said the management responded that it would not be available for discussions until the end of November because of an ongoing renovation exercise. Toro described the response as unacceptable, arguing that the workers’ grievances could not be put on hold for several months.
The TUC General Secretary said the union had also shared the correspondence between it and the hotel management with security agencies, including the police and DSS, to demonstrate that efforts had been made to resolve the matter through dialogue.
Toro said the picketing would continue until Friday, when it would review the situation and determine its next course of action. He, however, stressed that the union remained willing to engage the hotel management in dialogue if it was prepared to negotiate in good faith.
Toro also dismissed suggestions that the protesters did not represent the hotel’s workers, saying the union was confident that workers within the hotel were willing to join the union.
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“We will be here this week. From now until Friday. We will review it on Friday. If they are ready to talk, we will talk. We want a peaceful resolution. And that’s what we stand for.
“The workers are members there. They are resolute. They are ready to join the union. And we will ensure that their rights are guaranteed,” he said.
Also speaking, the National President of HAPSSSA, Iyeh Adegbe, said the dispute was not limited to the Abuja Continental Hotel, alleging that similar issues existed at the hotel’s Lagos operation.
Responding to a question on why the union was picketing Abuja Continental alone, Adegbe said the hotel had a history of alleged anti-union practices.
“Continental Hotel has a history. Even Continental in Lagos, the same thing that is happening in Abuja is happening in Lagos,” he alleged.
He also recalled the takeover of Sheraton Hotel by the new investors, claiming that workers who previously had union representation were subsequently discouraged from belonging to unions.
According to him, the affected workers had no access to conditions of service and were allegedly denied the right to freely associate.
Adegbe said the unions had made several attempts to engage the hotel management, including writing letters through the relevant affiliate unions, but their efforts allegedly yielded no positive response.
He said the matter was subsequently escalated to the TUC after the affiliate unions were unable to resolve it at their level.
“That was why we escalated to the labour centre, which is the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, and that is why they wrote to us that they don’t have time for any meeting until November,” Adegbe said.
