BODE RHODES-VIVOUR, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The appellants were the plaintiffs before the Lagos State High Court and the respondents were the defendants. The plaintiffs claim against the defendants jointly and severally was for:
1(a) A DECLARATION that the laying-off from February of July 1982 by the 1st defendant and of the 6th and 7th plaintiffs Union members employed by the 1st defendant and numbering about 268 is illegal, wrongful, null and void as being contrary to the provisions of the Labour Act 1974.
(b) A DECLARATION that the lock-out of members of the 6th Plaintiff's Union by the 1st defendant on 27th September, 1992 is a breach of:
(i) The Agreement reached between the 1st defendant's Management and 6th Plaintiff Union at the Ministry of Labour and Productivity on 17th September, 1962 is a breach of:
(ii) The agreement made on 16th September, 1981, between the Association of Metal Products and Iron and Steel employers on the one hand and the Iron and Steel Wo…