THE Vice Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State Chapter, Comrade Ziko Okwudi has urged labour leaders to adopt a diplomatic approach in addressing industrial disputes, rather than confrontation.
Comrade Okwudi, who is the National Treasurer of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and a two-term chairman of the union, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The Pointer.
The union leader said rather than aggression, labour leaders would achieve more for their members when they are diplomatic and proactive, but resilient during negotiations.
“The era of banging tables is gone. Today, it is about diplomacy. Like I told you, when you apply the proper diplomacy, you can negotiate rightly. So, the most important factor is your approach and presentation on issues with the government. You must understand how to key in rightly and create a working relationship.
‘’We are beginning to see beyond aggression, there is life after unionism. The government space is macro. You must find balance for the sake of the people whose interests you represent.
‘’If you go head-on with the government, you may have your way sometimes, but the people you so wish to represent their interest will suffer. For their sake and the purpose of what you are fighting for to be achieved, even when it is tough, you do not give up; stay resilient and determined to approach these issues.
‘’No man on earth does not have blood running in his veins. No matter how difficult a man is, it comes to a point when he succumbs to pressure depending on how these issues are approached.
‘’In the past, we had union leaders who were merely privileged individuals, many of whom lacked education or proper refinement. Some rose from level-three officers to chairmen, and their mentality was rooted in aggression, ‘we no go gree’. ‘’But things have changed today.
That’s why the government now sponsor us for training and retraining, to help us better understand how to handle labour matters as it affects the profession you have chosen to represent. ‘’That is why today there is relative peace. It is not completely easy or rosy, of course. We still face challenges, but we always find a way to return to the table and work things out with the government. We try to give every disagreement a soft landing. And to the glory of God, it has worked for us’’ he said.
