The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government refuses to address some legitimate welfare and membership related issues.
The union subsequently issued a 14-day ultimatum with effect from November 15, 2021, in a statement released on Monday and jointly signed by NUPENG President, Williams Akhoreha and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi.
The statement read: “We write to convey to the public and all relevant government agencies the resolution of the Special National Delegates Conference to issue a 14-day notice of a nationwide industrial action if some legitimate welfare and membership related issues that have been variously resolved in our favour even by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment are not adequately and conclusively addressed and resolved within the next fourteen days.
“This ultimatum takes effect from Monday 15th November 2021.
“For the records, these benefits were in line with the subsisting Collective Bargaining Agreement as at the time these workers were laid off. This fact has been severally established but Chevron management unscrupulously short paid these workers and locked them out of its premises.
“In similar manner, Chevron management also terminated the employment of Contract workers in MUYIDEEN (Labour Contractor) and YKISH (Labour Contractor) because these workers consented to join the Union and when the employment of these workers who have variously put in between 10 to 20 years in continuous employment was terminated, no single kobo has been paid to them as terminal benefits.
“There is also the matter concerning PYRAMIDT workers, who for more than 20 years now have been moved from one Labour Contractor to another without conditions of service and Union representation/ recognition.
“The struggle for the unionization of these have spanned several years with workers remaining resolute to be members of NUPENG.”
