07 December 2012, Sweecrude, Abuja – The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended the picketing of Shell Petroleum Development Company formations in some parts of the country following the intervention by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Nwogu.
The management of Shell and Officials of the union issued a statement Thursday on the suspension agreement and consequetntly, the minister of labour directed the management of Shell to recall all sacked officers and members on or before December 4, 2012.
NUPENG had, last week, paralysed business activities in Shell offices over alleged anti-labour practices by management of the oil company accusing Shell of being the major vendor of enslaving Nigerians, through exploitative contract and agency labour employment, popularly called outsourcing.
It explained that the contract workers in Shell have no conditions of service, adding that when their contracts are terminated, they would not paid severance benefits, other than one month’s salary irrespective of the number of years in service.
In a bid to wave off any industrial crisis, the labour minister waded into the dispute shortly after the union leaders threatened to embark on a nationwide strike.
At the meeting, the minister directed management of Shell to immediately recall the sacked union members, in the interest of industrial peace and harmony, while the meeting also resolved that NUPENG shall withdraw all cases pending against SHELL in the Court.The meeting is expected to be reconvened on January 31st to review progress.
