The strike which was held on Monday 1st of March 2021 across Ika nation, also was to drive home their demand for customers to comply with their new service charge.
In the old charge, pumping of motorcycle tyres was N50.00, cars, N100.00, fixing and patching of tubes was N500.00 while patching of lorry tyres was pegged at N1, 500 respectively.
But in the new charge, motorcycle tyres is now N100.00, vehicle tyres, N200.00, patching of tubes, N1000 while patching of lorry tyres is now N2000 respectively.
During the warning strike, members locked down their operations across the various units while demanding full compliance of customers to their new service charge.
According to the Vice Chairman of the Association, Ime-Obi Unit, Mr. Chuks Osegi, the strike action was to have their customers adhere to the new development, stressing that the need for the new vulcanizers service charge was inevitable considering the hike in prices of commodities in the market.
“We wish not to over charge our customers but the need for them to consider our little increments in our service charge is of great importance as we also have families to feed and care for.
“The new charge was implemented on Friday last week, but instead of the customers complying, some of them ridicules us and also accused members of being partial. Hence the strike to alert the general public on the new development in vulcanizing business,” he further explained.
In the same vein, the Association decried lack of government presence and support, pointing out that they were yet to feel the impact of the present day government.
Mr. Osegi, explained that the Association, which according to him was also important just as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), was last recognized by government during the last disbursement of SURE-P by Hon. Andrew Obiazi led Caretaker Committee of Ika south local government council.
“We are eligible voters and have participated in various elections that brought the present government of Delta State into power, yet we are not being supported,” he added.
The Association called on government at all levels to extend her dividend of democracy to the Vulcanizers Association and also appealed to their customers to comply with their new service charge.
Meanwhile, the strike action was indeed felt by motorists as those with flat tyres could not get Vulcanizers to fix their tyres.
