The industrial crisis at Radio Bayelsa has worsened following a threat by the workers to shut down the station.
Radio Bayelsa, which is owned by the state government, became entangled in an industrial crisis when the new General Manager, Mr. John Idumange, introduced managerial styles the workers considered strange.
Idumange, a former Special Assistant on Social Media to Governor Seriake Dickson, got into trouble with the workers with his decision to introduce some reforms, which he said were part of his mandate.
It was learnt that the aggrieved workers shunned the certificate verification the general manager ordered.
Instead of partaking in the verification, which started on Monday, the workers chose the same period to attend a joint congress of their unions on the station’s premises.
Idumange was said to be unhappy that his workers’ attitude made it impossible for the verification to take off.
But at the congress, the workers, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Radio and Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU), resolved not to participate in the verification.
Over 200 employees of the radio station, Glory FM, attended the joint congress, which was presided over by the State NUJ Chairman John Angase and RATTAWU Chairman David Emiebi.
The unions insisted that the station’s management should suspend the verification within 48 hours or face an industrial action.
According to them, the failure of the management to convene a meeting to resolve contentious issues with the workers would compel them to down tools.
Addressing the workers, Angase said the unions made many futile efforts to mediate between Radio Bayelsa chapters of NUJ, RATTAWU and the station’s management.
He said: “The certificate verification slated to begin on January 9 should be suspended pending a meeting with the workers to resolve the contentious issues causing industrial disharmony.
“We are not in any way opposed to certificate verification, but we do believe that due process should be followed and the processes should be discussed with the unions. We want the new general manager to address the workers and unfold his plans for the station.
“We, therefore, urge every worker to boycott the exercise, pending when the general manager sees the need to meet with them to iron things out.”
The unions accused the general manager of breaching public service rules by compelling senior officers to take directives from their juniors.
But Idumange has continued to distance himself from the allegations.
The general manager accused the workers of using the unions to frustrate his efforts to reform and reposition the station.
Idumange said the workers were wasting time by insisting that the verification must continue and threatened to declare the absentees ghost workers.
He said: “The exercise is not even my brainchild. In fact, my predecessor had compiled a list of over 200 workers for redeployment. So, those who wish to continue working here should participate or risk job loss.”
The general manager said the verification was initiated to ensure proper placement of workers and cleanse the payroll of ghost workers.
Idumange said: “There is nothing like industrial disharmony. This small radio station has 346 workers; employment and job placement has never followed due process. To correct those anomalies, we are beginning certificate and workers’ verification, which will last four days.
“Most of those with fake certificates are afraid and they are creating a semblance of unrest. They wrote to me to stop the exercise, but the Ministry of Information said the exercise must continue: those ghost workers must be fished out and the payroll cleaned up. The wage bill of the station is N35 million monthly and it is not sustainable. My predecessor incurred a debt of N40 million, which I will battle to clear.
“The unions are being instigated by the heads of departments affected in the illegal recruitment and those who came into that place through the back door.”
“These include a situation where a family – the father, mother and three children – are working in the station. It is unbelievable but true.”