-Amid protest at NRI facility
BY: Shallon S.Gonlor
NIMBA COUNTY — Nimba County Superintendent, Kou Meapeh Gono on Saturday held a fact-finding meeting with the aggrieved Cocopa Workers Union of Nimba Rubber Incorporated in Nimba County District #8.
The meeting with the workers’ union at the company site in Cocopa aimed to give the County Superintendent first-hand insight into the legitimate plights of the workers.
The Cocopa Workers Union of the Nimba Rubber Incorporated-NIR has complained of bad labor and malpractices by the company’s management team, which they claimed the company owed them 3 months’ pay.
Recently, about 550 aggrieved employees of Nimba Rubber Incorporated (NRI) formerly the Cocopa Rubber Plantations on the Gabta-Saclepea highway reportedly embarked on a nonstop protest in demand of salaries and other benefits.
The aggrieved employees’ protestation blocked the Ganta-to-Saclepea roads connecting another southeastern corridor of the country in demand of their salaries and benefits from the management of NIR.
The protest was also backed by students attending the plantation’s local school in collaboration with widows of deceased NIR employees who alleged that over the past months, the management of the company has allegedly refused to supply them with rice, house recent, and adequate health care services among others.
Speaking at the fact-finding, the chairman of the Cocopa Workers Union, Saye Tiawon Bayoa explained the numerous life-threatening and bad labor at the Nimba Rubber Incorporated.
He asserted that since 2020 up to the present they have received a series of malpractices from the Nimba Rubber Incorporated management team including disrespect to their human dignity, needs, and wants.
Laying down their plight before the Nimba County Superintendent and officials of the county’s administration, Mr. Saye Tiawon Bayoa called on the local county administration to swiftly remedy the situation they are facing.
The Cocopa Workers Union Chairman however recommended the immediate removal of the current NRI Management Team headed by the Chief Executive Officer, Harrison Karnwea, if normal activity and peace should ring at the plantation.
In response to their concern, Nimba County Superintendent, Kou Meapeh Gono cautioned the union to remain calm and promised them that their demand would be addressed in good faith.
Superintendent Gono meanwhile cited the Cocopa Workers Union and the management of Cocopa Rubber Incorporated to a conference in the office of the Superintendent in Sanniquellie on Monday, April 15, 2024.
The conference, accordingly will aid the superintendent to make an informed decision in conflict between NRI and its worker’s union.
