Airtel signs agreement with NLC, recalls workers

Airtel has restored services to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the adjoining parts of Northern Nigeria as it re-opened its offices across the country following an end to the face-off over outsourcing between labour and its business partners.The re-opening of the offices and the restoration of service in Abuja and most of the northern Nigeria come on the heels of an agreement reached by the telecommunications company, its partners, and the Labour unions: the National Union of Post and Telecommunication Employees (NUPTE) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).The NLC and its affiliate union, NUPTE had closed down offices and customer shops of Airtel across the country following a dispute over outsourcing between the workers and Airtel partners, Spanco Channel BPO Limited and Tech Mahindra.While the union claimed that the workers were sacked, Tech Mahindra and Spanco said that it was only a matter of expiration of the existing contracts between them and the human resources firms that recruited the workers.However, based on the agreement and a communiqu signed after the negotiation, the business partners, Spanco, and Tech Mahindra will ensure that all the call centre staff affected by contract expiration before the dispute will resume work not later than tomorrow, Thursday, October 13, 2011.The communiqu also mandated labour to assist actively in restoring normalcy to the operations of Airtel across the country.Additionally, further negotiations will commence with a view to putting in place a collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).The agreement also shows that the parties must conclude the collective bargaining agreement on or before October 28, 2011, according to the communiqu.Meanwhile, the telecommunications services provider thanked its customers across the country, particularly those in the Federal Capital Territory and environs.Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mr Rajan Swaroop, in a statement said the telecommunications firm was grateful for the loyalty of its customers while the impasse lasted.Swaroop stated, 'We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience the situation may have caused our customers just as we thank them for their understanding. We equally commend our customers for their loyalty and abiding faith in the Airtel brand.'We wish to reassure customers of Airtel's continuous commitment to providing Nigerians a world-class mobile network, innovative and relevant products and services and affordable tariffs which will empower our people to succeed in their business and personal endeavours.
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