Photo credit: Ablee-jay TV (Protesting WBHO workers at the ArcelorMittal Liberia Concession area)
By King Brown, sarwahking@gmail.com
Buchanan, Liberia- A group of aggrieved and former workers from WBHO have staged a protest against the company, alleging that the management is involved in bad labour practice.
The workers at the ArcelorMittal concession area on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 protested against both the company’s management and Labor Commissioner Johnson Qouigbian, claiming that they have been ignoring their grievances.
They had earlier walked out of a hearing held on Tuesday at the Labor Commissioner’s office in Buchanan.
WBHO, known as Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon Ltd, is a South African construction firm hired by ArcelorMittal Liberia for railway maintenance work.
The protesters blocked the main gate of the company, preventing entry and exit of people and vehicles.
Madison Johnson, the secretary of the group, stated that the hearing was meant to address claims of unfair labor practices.
However, he said the company management abruptly left the meeting, leaving the workers feeling abandoned.
During the hearing, the group’s chairman, Melvin Redd, was accused by the company of misappropriating $2,500 USD, which they claimed was mistakenly transferred to his account.
The CEO demanded repayment, which Redd allegedly failed to do, leading to the deduction of $400 USD from his salary and his subsequent dismissal without receiving his $900 USD benefit.
Johnson explained that the commissioner halted the hearing, citing the unresolved criminal accusation against Redd.
The workers argued that the case should continue regardless of the accusation against one member, but their plea was dismissed, prompting them to protest on Wednesday, July 17, 202