In the heat of an ongoing industrial relations dispute between employees of the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) and the management of the institution –the National Workers Union (NWU), the NIC workers’ representatives, say they are pleased with the intervention of the NIC Chairman in this matter.
Over the past six days, staffers at the NIC stayed off their work duties with unrelenting demands for better wages and working conditions at the country’s major social security and welfare agency.
But now that the NIC chairman has stepped in to mediate in the matter, will this bring about the intended change in fortunes that the employees are requesting?
A NWU statement issued on Thursday (April, 13) sought to shed some light on the latest developments.
“The National Workers Union (NWU) sincerely appreciates your honest and urgent intervention in an effort to resolve the long standing industrial relations matter between the NWU and the National Insurance Corporation,” noted the NWU release.
“Having listened to and been appraised in detail about the status of the negotiations, we accept your commitment that all the outstanding areas will be addressed and settled with the Union within one (1) week,” the NWU statement added.
The employees have continued to express dissatisfaction over the pace of negotiations between management of the NIC and the NWU.
Employees are seeking a 12% increase in salaries, in addition to travel allowance for travelling officers, an extension of vehicle loans for non-travelling employees, health insurance and training among many other demands.
Since then, NIC Chairman Everistus Jn. Marie has met with the NWU representative and Labour Commissioner Joseph Joseph, where terms and conditions were agreed upon.
Citing the NIC’s latest stance on this matter, the NWU said, the NIC’s chairman intervention was timely and will be recorded as one of the most progressive steps and commitment ever undertaken by a NIC chairman.
“In addition, we also welcome your recognition that employees at the NIC are currently working in an environment of mistrust; one that has been in existence for a very long time and as such your assurance that all matters would be put to rest within one week is timely, appreciated and accepted,” the document states. “In so doing, we will ensure that normalcy returns to the operations of the Corporation immediately. We look forward to our urgent engagement with the NIC.”