The leadership of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has put all its members on notice for possible industrial actions over an alleged dispute between Chevron Nigeria Limited, its contractors and the workers.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the union stated that it has explored all means to settle the dispute with no success, hence, the need for industrial action in the next seven days if all disputes are not resolved.
According to the union, “NUPENG hereby puts all our members on red alert should Chevron Nigeria Limited and its contractors fail to honour or comply with our demands within the next seven days, we would also not hesitate to take all necessary legal options available to us; including industrial actions to press home our legitimate demands.”
NUPENG said with deep frustration and worries would like to alert the general public and all relevant authorities of the blatant violation of an agreement reached between Chevron Nigeria Limited Company and the unions in the industry.
“It is a public knowledge that the unions in the Oil and Gas Industry had a protracted negotiation with Chevron Nigeria Limited over 70 per cent labour manpower reduction which they (Chevron) claimed was required in view of “so-called” reductions in their operations in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry.
“The unions in the Industry (NUPENG and PENGASSAN) vehemently opposed this unpatriotic and inhumane move in view of the avowed commitment of the Unions to the protection of jobs of our members and considering the high level of unemployment in the country which is directly responsible for the heightened insecurity and tensed situation in the Country
“After up to one-year negotiation brokered by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and even Ministry of Labour.
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“Unfortunately, immediately after the agreement was reached, Chevron started executing the exercise in blatant violation of the agreed terms ostensibly to either put NUPENG in a bad light as troublesome or for extinction because only NUPENG members have been exited from work leaving behind the Non-Unionised workers and PENGASSAN members. It is further embarrassing to see that NUPENG executives are also part of those already locked out,” it stated.
The union said from the record, over 500 of NUPENG members are being exited.
“We further learnt that the intention of Chevron is to change the contract to short term service contract and we see this as unfair and breach of the agreement reached with us in bad faith.
“For clarity, here are our demands from the management of Chevron: All NUPENG executives should be called back to work. The percentage of reduction agreed should be spread to the three groups as agreed to avoid creating the impression that NUPENG was the target of the exercise. The good disposition of the new leadership of the NUPENG should not be taken for granted. Chevron should not be allowed to use this exercise to change the Labour Manpower contract to service contract in a disguised manner,” it said.
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