Labour Unions Picket Publishing Firm Over Sack Of 75 Workers

Members of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday picketed Global Plus Publishing Company in protest against the retrenchment of 75 workers.

The unions accused the company’s management of dismissing the affected employees for exercising their constitutional right to belong to trade unions.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP, President of the Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), Comrade Rufus Olusesan, who led the protest, said the workers were targeted after joining unions affiliated with the TUC.

He explained that the affected staff are members of the Pulp, Paper and Paper Products, Printing and Publishing Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PPAPPPAPSSAN) and the National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW).

Olusesan further revealed that the company had placed its operations under a lockout, preventing workers from accessing the premises.

“We are operating under a lockout. Workers can only return when the gates are opened. Anything built on illegality will not stand,” he said.

He added that the unions issued a 30-minute ultimatum to the management to allow workers who had worked overnight to exit the premises, warning that failure to comply would result in the main gate being shut.

Also speaking, President of PPAPPPAPSSAN, Comrade Philip Omonikhe, said the picketing became necessary to compel the management to reinstate the disengaged workers.

According to the labour leaders, 40 of the affected workers are members of TUC affiliates, while 35 belong to PPAPPPAPSSAN.

They traced the dispute to August 2025 when the workers joined the unions, alleging that the management responded with intimidation, harassment and other anti-union practices, which eventually led to their dismissal.

“What we are demanding is the immediate reinstatement of the 75 workers. We also warn against any form of victimisation of union members,” the union leaders stated.