*Laid-off workers not our employees – Chevron
Matthew Asabor
Lagos — The leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers, NUPENG, has disassociated itself from a purported report that it held a meeting with Chevron management over the seven days’ strike ultimatum issued to the company over the sack of some of its members.
In a statement, the National President, NUPENG, Comrade William Akporeha, said the union never met with Chevron management and that the strike ultimatum remained “sacrosanct”.
“There was no such meeting and therefore the strike ultimatum remained intact. The union urges its members nationwide to ignore the report, continue to be on red alert and mobilise for the impending strike action at the expiration of the ultimatum,” he stated.
It will be recalled that the union had earlier issued the management of Chevron Nigeria Ltd seven days’ ultimatum to recall 175 workers laid off by one of its contract companies.
The Chevron management later claimed it had met the leadership of NUPENG over the 175 sacked workers
The company’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr Esimaje Brikinn, made this known in Lagos.
NUPENG losses its founding President, Dubre
Brikinn said that the laid-off workers were not employees of Chevron but workers of an independent contractor providing services to Chevron.
NUPENG, however, has declared as false the claim of meeting with the management and urged its members to warm up for strike at the expiration of the seven days’ ultimatum to Chevron management.
