The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Workers has threatened to begin a three-day warning strike
on January 9, 2017, against the anti-labour practice of the
International Oil Companies.
The South-West chairman of the union,
Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the
warning strike was inevitable because all other options had failed.
Korodo stated, “We are not gaining
anything by going on strike because it is not a joyful thing but as a
union, we have to protect and fight for the welfare of our members.
“We have sensitised the public and also
seek the intervention of the Federal Government on the anti-labour
activities of the IOCs against our members but we are not getting
results.
“Our members that put in their best
within the time they worked were not paid their severance packages by
their employers after they sacked them. This is a big slap and it will
not be allowed.
“What they are practising here in Nigeria, they cannot practise in their countries; so, that is why we say enough is enough.”
The chairman explained that the reason
for the planned warning strike was inherited from the previous
administration, adding that some of the issues arose during the term of
the incumbent government.
“Two hundred and fifty members of our
union members were affected by the divestment by Chevron Nigeria Limited
in the South-East. And this is giving us a serious concern because they
cannot feed their families.
“The Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris
Ngige, asked all parties to maintain the status-quo ante and we complied
because we respect the authorities, but the IOCs seem to be above the
law or more powerful than the government; they failed to maintain the
status-quo ante which was amicably agreed on by both parties.”
Korodo added, “The minister said Chevron had to pay the sacked workers but its management refused to comply.
“It got to a time when Ngige called for a meeting in Abuja to mediate; at times, its (firm) representatives would not show up.”
He alleged that all other IOCs in the country were involved in these anti-labour practices.
“We do not want the public to see the
strike as if we are unnecessarily punishing Nigerians. That’s why we are
using this period to protest by asking tanker drivers to hang green
leaves on their trucks and our members to wear red cloth.
“By next year, if our grievances are not addressed within this period, we will proceed on a three-day warning strike.
PUNCH.
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