TUC slams TATA over alleged victimisation of employee

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Sunday condemned the alleged victimisation of Mr 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 Ogunyemi by TATA.

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

“We regard as mischievous the advert in the Guardian of March 24 by TATA Nigeria.

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

It added that 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 Obhiojeifor to order to avoid industrial crisis in the company.