Scrap And Waste Dealers Declare Indefinite Strike Over Exploitation By Steel Rolling Mills

Following the recent temporary constraints imposed on the Steel Rolling Mills in Nigeria by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria which has led to the unexpected drastic reduction in the price of scrap iron, the National Association of Scrap And Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, NASWDEN, has declared an indefinite strike to protest the exploitation and cheating of its members by the mills.

Declaring the strike action at a press conference held at the Association’s Operation office in Lagos, Comrade John. E. Obeh, the National President, said against the standard practice of steel rolling mills issuing a 90-Day notice to enable NASWDEN members adjust, the companies took the advantage of unexpected temporary closure by SON to effect the cut in the price of scarp and waste they supplied.

According to the NASWDEN leader, the prices of various iron scrap prior to the February 5, 2020 closure were between N136,000 and N145,000 per ton. But when the temporary closure was lifted by the SON, the companies have reduced the price to between N120 and N125,000 per ton.

“It is a standard that the steel rolling mills need to give a 90-Day notice prior to the reduction of price to enable our members adjust to the new price. But the temporary closure of the companies by SON has lead the mills to take advantage of our stranded members who loaded iron scrap to the companies because they are not aware of the closure,” Obeh said.

He then demanded that the companies should revert to the old purchasing price tag before the closure hence the union, all its members, agents and suppliers should embark on an indefinite strike —from February 19, 2020.

“There will be total lockdown. There will be no loading and supplying in any part of the country as we urge the steel rolling mills to reverse the price to the normal price. We also warn and call on our members to abide by the directives of the Association as our task force will be deployed to ensure total compliance while any defaulters will be apprehended and dealt with appropriately,” the NASWDEN President declared.

The Association also frowned at the importation of Iron billets by the steel rolling mills, an action the NASWDEN leaders described as a “threatening situation to our members”.

He said the recent importation of the billets has lead to some of the association members losing their businesses, an action which in the long run would create hardship and increase the unemployment rate in the country.