The management of Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Limited and workers are now in a face-off over alleged discriminatory policies and domination of Indians over their Nigerian colleagues.
Staff of the company, at the weekend locked horns with management, in a peaceful protest to register their displeasure over what they described as ‘slave’ labour policies perpetrated by the management.
The workers, who stormed the gates of the company in their numbers, in the wee hours of last Friday, were locked out by the management who prevented them from entering the company through the aid of heavily armed security operatives, who barricaded the company gates.
The protesting workers, however, dared the heavy rains, chanting solidarity songs, and insisting that their demands be given due attention by management.
Speaking with The Tide during the protest, the branch Chairman of the National Union of Petroleum and National Gas Workers (NUPENG) in the company, Comrade Charmi Eze, traced the genesis of the problem to the management’s decision to impose membership of compromised unions on workers.
Eze, who faulted management’s decision, said labour laws stipulate that workers should join unions of their choice.
The NUPENG boss said such breach of workers’ rights in the company was beyond forced unionism but included discriminatory employment policies which favour Indians over Nigerian workers.
He pointed out that there was a high discrepancy between Indian and Nigerian workers in terms of salaries and allowances, as Indians receive “fabulous allowances and salaries, while Nigerians are paid peanuts.”
Also speaking, the branch Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union (PENGASAN) in Indorama Eleme Petrochemical, Comrade Innocent Ugwunta, said the decision of management to shut out the workers was deceptive.
He said the allegation by management that the shutting down of the plant by workers caused damage to the equipment was a ploy to cash in on the opportunity to promote its selfish interest.
The PENGASSAN chairman said the Indians were plotting to damage the plants at the expense of the workers so they could declare “over-bloated dividends and swindle the shareholders, including the workers and host communities”.
In her remarks, the Zonal Treasurer of NUPENG, Comrade Mobote Odusanwo, described the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANSA) and the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Metallic Products Employees of Nigeria (NUPLANFEN) as stooges of management.
Branch Secretary of NUPENG, Indorama, Comrade Walter Tamuno, in his reaction, flayed the management for flouting the directives of the Rivers State Government on the matter.
He said the decision of management to force workers on leave was a clear connivance with the Indians to sabotage the company.
It could be recalled that the management of Indorama, in a circular, dated 14 July, 2017, signed by an Indian human resources manager, had alleged that “the continued shut down of all plants since 12 July, 2017, has caused substantial damage to the plants, as well as made operations unsafe”.
The circular called for inspection and assessment from experts for proper repairs and maintenance before safe re-start of the facility, and urged all employees to proceed on leave until the plants are safe for operation.
Efforts to get the Media Relations Manager of the company, Jossy Nkwocha, to comment on the matter were abortive as he did not respond to all phone calls.

Taneh Beemene