The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions has urged employers of labour to stem disputes by signing agreements they could implement.
The union’s Deputy President, Oyinkan Olasanoye, told newsmen on Sunday in Lagos that such would help to reduce incessant strikes arising from the non-implementation of agreements.
According to Olasanoye, the government or private sector employers sometimes reneged on agreements because their representatives sign agreements without the mandate of their superiors.
Olasonye also said that employers often failed to implement agreements reached after negotiation because there were sub-unions within a particular sector making different demands.
Olasonye said: “Government and private organisations should be responsible for any decision taken on their behalf, while their representatives should sign agreements according to the mandate they have.”
She denied that labour leaders had been compromised in their struggle, noting that the tactics, method and ideas had changed from what it used to be.
She explained: “For the past six years that I have served as deputy president, ASSIBIFI has picketed only once.
“The case is still in court.
“Everybody thinks that labour leaders lead protests and banging tables.
“But unionism today is about superiority of argument.
“If a union goes to an employer over an issue and agreement is reached, there will be no need for protest.”
Olasanoye said workers should be patient while negotiations were going on because it takes some time to achieve result.
On the current recession, she said more jobs would still be lost because employees and employers in Nigeria depended on the economy to survive.
She lamented: “Many employers of labour in Nigeria reduce workforce once there is economic crisis.
“The workers, not the management will be sacked no matter their ideas and contribution to the growth of the organization.”
Olasanoye advised workers to be involved in small and medium scale businesses, adding that ASSIBIFI was involved in businesses that could cater for its workers in future recession.
On women, Olasanoye said it was commendable that educated women were being given opportunity to express their skills and intelligence in politics and in unionism globally.
She further stated: “Before, women in unionism are only allowed to occupy positions as ex-officio and other lower cadre.
“Today, it has changed and that is why I can contest for the position of ASSBIFI president in November.
“I appeal for more opportunities for women to show their leadership skills.”
On her plans, the ASSBIFI deputy leader said she would focus on training and organisation in line with the theme of her campaign, “sustainability”, if elected the union’s President.
She assured: “I will bring innovations for people to see that the union is still more relevant, especially in a recession period.
“If elected, I intend to do more with humans than asset or properties.”
Olasanoye appealed to men in various leadership positions to give women opportunity to show their intelligence, especially now that women were emerging political leaders globally.
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