Warri — The National Union of Hotels and Personal Services Workers (NUHPSW) Warri branch, has given 14 days ultimatum, effective from March 2, 2005, to the Management of Nigeria Caterers and Supermarkets Limited (NC & SL) to abide by the terms of the agreement reached between the management and the Union on October 9, 2004 on the review of the collective agreement entered on November 16, 2001, failure of which the union has vowed to commence an industrial action.

In a letter dated March 2, 2005, entitled: "14 Days Ultimatum", which was signed by Comrade David O. Ogedegbe, the union asked the management to have a rethink and commence the suspended negotiation immediately to avoid the impending industrial disharmony.

Addressing journalists at the union's branch office in Warri, the branch Chairman of the NUHPSW in Warri, Comrade Johnson Odudu explained that the union has exhausted every other avenue of harmonizing the relationship between management and the union over the review problem.

Comrade Odudu, stated that the review became necessary in view of the harsh economic reality of today occasioned by inflationary rise in the cost of consumer goods and services from the same market their members buy from.

In the same development, the union leaders said that they have written another letter to the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Delta State Council, the Supply Chain Manager, Chevron-Texaco, Lagos, the Area Manager, Chevron-Texaco, Warri and the Base Manager, Danos and Curole, Warri, intimating them of their plan to stage an industrial action if the management of NC & SL fails to comply with their initial agreement of reviewing their contractual agreement collectively entered on 16 November, 2001 which they feel is no longer tenable owing to high cost of consumer goods and services in the country.

Comrade Odudu stressed that just as is written in the letter, the union will not entertain any postponement of date but that NC & SL should comply with the 14days ultimatum in the spirit of good industrial relations practice, otherwise at the expiration of 14 days he will have no other option in view of harsh economic reality, frustration, hazard and poor wages,but to commence and industrial action against the management.

Union Exco members who attended the Warri briefing include Comrades Anthony Nwaijei, David O. Ogedegbe, Principle Assistant General Secretary, Famous Sajere. Wilson Otomewo, Johnson Odudu, Branch Chairman, Fredrick Abeh, Robinson Orughe, Joseph Toulagha and Johnmark Oghomienor.