Unending crisis?

Chantier Naval DG at war with workers

Chantier Naval head office in Douala

Some 50 workers have been summoned to appear before the disciplinary committee of the company. But the workers say the reason evoked for such convocation is a smokescreen as the real reason is their denunciation of the extravagant lifestyle of the DG and their call for him to resign if he cannot pay workers salaries .

By Mercy Neba in Douala

The fate of over 50 workers of the Cameroon Shipyard and Industrial Company, popularly known by its French appellation “Chantier Naval” will be decided in the days ahead when they face the disciplinary committee of the state-owned company, The Median has learned. Their reasons for facing the law are varied, if we go by the different notices put up within the premises of the structure by its director general, Alfred ForgweiMbeng.

                While some of them are accused of participating in what is termed the “illegal and savage” strike of 11 and 12 November 2015, others are blamed for taking active part in the “illegal” strike of 29 and 30 December of the same year. Yet others, The Median has been informed, will pay the price for acting violently against a colleague and a fourth category for falsifying official documents in order to receive undue allowances from the National Social Insurance Fund.

                We were told that a total of six disciplinary committees would hold soon to decide the fate of the said “recalcitrant” workers. Each committee consists of five members, that is, a president, three delegates of personnel and one secretary. They are said to have up to 21 days to give a ruling and forward their decisions to the director general for appreciation.

Scores-settling?

                Supporters of the director general have hastened to comment that the holding of a disciplinary committee is not synonymous with sanction, but many of the workers whom The Median talked to, cried foul, saying management is simply seeking to victimize those of them who went on strike on 26 April 2016 to demand the payment of their salary arrears.

                “We were asking for the payment of our salary arrears,” one of the workers, who asked not to be named, told The Median. “We shouted at the top of our voices that if the DG cannot pay us the sum of money we are demanding, then he had better resigned. Our families are starving, our kids are sent away from school whereas the DG rides in new ultramodern vehicles worth 120 million FCFA and goes on regular two-week missions abroad. That is unacceptable!”

                As at now, the outcome of the holding of the disciplinary committee is not exactly known. However, keen observers are able to predict that many “unfortunate” heads will roll.

                “If mine is one of the heads that will roll, then the director general should know that he too will go, even if not immediately. Believe me, Mr. Journalist I’m privy to some nasty things he has done which I’ll only reveal if he victimizes me. God alone knows what I’m talking about,” an anonymous respondent told this newspaper.