TUC condemns TATA for alleged victimisation of employee

The Trade Union Congress, TUC, has condemned the alleged victimisation of Joseph Ogunyemi an employee of TATA Africa Services, Nigeria.

A statement signed by TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, and acting Secretary-General, Simeso Amachree, said the union was not in support of actions taken against Mr. Ogunyemi by TATA.

The statement was issued to journalists on Sunday in Lagos.

It queried the management of TATA for advertising in a national daily that Mr. Ogunyemi was no longer in its employment when he had not been served letter of termination.

“The advert said that Ogunyemi is no longer in the services of TATA, though he has not been served letter of termination.

“The cause of his victimisation is still being dialogued and congress is still expecting response to its petition from TATA regional office in South Africa,” it said.

The statement said that Esther Obhiojeifor, Head, Human Resources of TATA, insisted that Mr. Ogunyemi be sacked for no reason other than being a former chairman of Automobile Union, TATA Branch.

It added that Mr. Ogunyemi had been denied promotion, queried severally, transferred to Port Harcourt and denied several benefits.

It said that the TUC was backed by the Trade Union Act to operate as watchdog in workplaces and would not allow any of its members to be victimised on account of performing his lawful union activities.

The statement urged the management of TATA to call Mrs. Obhiojeifor to order to avoid industrial crisis in the company.

(NAN)