*Calls for paradigm shift
*To call out members for industrial action if nothing is done within seven days
Matthew Asabor
Lagos – The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has called the attention of the general public and various concerned authorities to the unending and recurring anti labour union position of Chevron Nigeria Limited and its service contractor(s).
This is coming on the heels of the sacking of One Hundred and Seventy Five (175) Contract workers by YKISH lntegrated Services, Delog Nigeria Ltd and Euroflow Services, all service contractors to Chevron Nigeria Ltd basically for declaring to become members of the Union.
In a statement, the National President, NUPENG, Comrade Williams Akporeha, said, the body is seriously disturbed and pained about the flagrant disrespect for the extant labour laws and abdication of all forms of sensitivities by Chevron Nigeria Ltd and its contractors, to the extent that the employment of these workers were terminated via WhatApp messages, describing the action as appalling, callous and very heart rendering approach to industrial relations practice at this age and time.
He opined that, the psychologically and emotionally trauma experienced by the sacked
workers due to the callous and wicked manners Chevron Nigeria Limited through its contractors, is horrendous and deeply tortuous as the method made them feel less human and utterly depressed.
‘We wish to emphasize here that this lack of respect and sensitivity to Nigerian extant labour law, international conventions and global best practices is gradually becoming the stock in trade for Chevron Nigeria Limited and its various contractors as there are still several other lingering infractions and issues against hapless workers yet to be addressed by Chevron Nigeria Ltd and its contractors even after several regulatory institutions like Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Department of Petroleum Resources and NAPIMS had severally ruled on these matters’ he fumed.
The NUPENG boss averred that, among other issues in contention are illegal deduction of workers benefits by Chevron contractors since 2012 and the flagrant refusal to refund back to the terminated workers the excess deductions made in their meager terminal benefits.
Akporeha condemned the refusal of Chevron management for their continuing discrimination against contractors and refusal to be pay quarantine allowances as it was done to permanent staff of the organization, he added that ‘ whereas they are all contributing to the production and profits of the organization and suffered same inconveniences during the period of quarantine’
He berated Chevron for inciting the host communities against NUPENG members in virtually all its locations of operations, refusal to pay the 2018 annual vacation not taken by the workers and also conniving with Pyrammidt Nigeria Limited to deny recognition to workers right to belong to an industrial union.
Akporeha reiterated that, as a responsible and very responsive organization, they are very mindful of the magnitude and spiral effects of their industrial actions to the economy, while at the same time they owe their members the duty to promote, project and protect their job interests.
He called on Chevron Management and its contractors to recall the sacked contract immediately, status quo maintained and also they should properly engage the leadership of the Union on all the matters raised for firm and final resolutions, while asserting that, in the interest of industrial peace and harmony, their demands must be met within the next seven days, otherwise they may be forced to call out all their members on a nationwide industrial action.
‘In the light of the above therefore, we are calling on the general public, the media, all concerned authorities in country and the industry including Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, National Assembly, law enforcement agents and the embassy of the United States of America to call Chevron and its service contractor(s) to order on these matters in order to avert avoidable industrial action from the Union’ he said.
