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NUPENG begins strike in Akwa Ibom over plans by Mobil to sack workers

By on September 23, 2013
NUPENG members

NUPENG members

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared that it will embark on industrial strike in Akwa Ibom state today (Monday) over plans by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to sack its members.

The union in a statement issued on Sunday by its General Secretary, Isaac Aberare, said the strike was as a result of the labour contract staff policy in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited that have been systematically separated and replaced with new contracts. It said such negates the collective bargaining agreement signed with NUPENG.

“It is pertinent to note that these new employees use Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited tools, equipment, machinery and vehicles to carry out their daily routine, yet they are denied the benefits as stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement”, he said.

Aberare recalled that NUPENG had earlier warned against the alleged plan to disengage 80 per cent of the contract workers and replace them with the so-called service employees by the end of September.

He added that “since the company has continued to perpetuate this anti-workers’ activities, we have directed our members to withdraw their services.”

“We find this plan unacceptable, unjustifiable, unfair, crude, barbaric and wicked and will be resisted by the union, after our members have helped to contribute their quota over the years to the growth of the company.

“It is sad to note that Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited has refused to give mandate to their labour contractors to have Joint Consultative Council (JCC) meeting, which is held quarterly and wage re-opener, which was due since June, 2013 and charter of demand submitted by March, 2013”.

The leader said NUPENG had written severally to the management of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, but all entreaties and call for dialogue to resolve the issues were rebuffed and ignored by the oil company.

“NUPENG cannot watch and see its members been sacked indiscriminately, as it will lead to a bad precedent in the oil and gas industry, hence the decision to withdraw services”.