‎3-day warning strike to begin Wednesday over sacked NUPENG workers

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) may begin a three-day nationwide warning strike from wednesday, ‎over undue sacking of workers without benefits and refusal to allow workers to unionize.

Chairman of NUPENG, Lagos chapter, Tokunbo Korodo, stated that the warning strike will hold if the government failed to make the international oil companies reverse the sack of its workers.

“I don’t know if the oil companies are bigger than the government because we have tried on several occasions to dialogue with the oil companies. The Minister of Labour and Employment has also intervened and insisted that the workers be paid full entitlement. But, they have refused to listen.”‎

The last time Nigeria witnessed total oil workers strike was in 1994 when all the unions stayed off work over the June 12 crisis.

Korodo stressed that the strike will be nationwide, with all NUPENG affiliates participating.

“The last time Nigeria witnessed this kind of strike was in 1994 when all arms of NUPENG went on strike, after then we have had quite a few go on strike. Now every affiliate of NUPENG will embark on this warning strike; from lifting to dispensing, which include fuel pump attendants”

“We checked with the Corporate Affairs Commission to verify the names of the companies that handled the labour issue for the IOCs (international oil companies), only to discover that the companies are not registered with the CAC. How can an international company be involved in such scam?”

According to him, “After this warning strike and our demands are not met, Nigerians should not blame us over what will follow next. We are always there when issues affecting Nigerians come up, now we can only call on them in solidarity for our cause.”

 
“This will cause the panic of buying petroleum products by Nigerians, but we are fully prepared for the strike action and we are preparing to make it a success.”

It will be recalled that Chevron was alleged to have sacked over 300 NUPENG members without benefits late last year and efforts by the union for them to be recalled proved abortive.