Court Stops La Casera From Sacking 1,500 Workers

NATIONAL Industrial Court, NIC, Lagos Division, has restrained the management of La Cesera Company Plc , makers of La casera soft drink and other consumables, from terminating the employment of its workers over unionisation dispute with the National Union of Food Beverage, Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE.“With this ruling, the action of the management, which through unsigned notice pasted on the gate of the company at the Amuwo Odofin Industrial Estate, Mile 2, a day earlier, (September 14), terminating the employment of its staff, has been nullified,” the court stated.The apex industrial court in the country, which gave the order on September 15, ordered the soft drink giant, either acting by itself or its agents, not to temper with the employment of the staff, pending the hearing of the substantive suit,on October 19,2015.
It was gathered that the company had sacked no fewer than 1,500 workers comprising 700 regular workers and 800 casuals.
However, ruling on an ex-parte application dated September 11, 2015, on suit number NICN/LA/416/2015, brought by NUFBTE against La Casera Company Plc.
According to Justice Obaseki-Osaghae, after hearing Mr. Sola Iji, counsel to claimant/applicant (NUFBTE), “it is hereby ordered that an order of interim injunction restraining the respondent/claimant whether by itself, its management, staff, directors, members, agents, proxies or privies from determining or otherwise terminating by any means, pending motion on notice filed by the respondent/claimant, will be heard along with the applicant/defendant’s motion on notice.”
The court ordered all parties to maintain the peace and take no action that will lead to a breakdown of law and order, and adjourned the case to October 19, 2015 for hearing of the two pending motions.