NUPENG Seeks End To Victimisation

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has called for an end to the victimisation of the union  officials by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) management.

A statement from the union’s national secretariat called on the management of SPDC to recall NUPENG’s caretaker committee chairman in SPDC, Comrade Enomate Kingsley and 16 other union members recently affected in the company by the severance exercise in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.

The union stated that the National secretariat dissolved the executive committee of the union in SPDC branch for anti-union activities and set-up a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the union in the interim.

The union said SPDC management refused to recognise the caretaker committee and had embarked on the policy of victimisation of the union officials.

The union accused SPDC management of allegedly planning to outsource the fire service department within the company to undermine the union, because majority of the union members were engaged in that department.

The union alleged that SPDC management transferred the former chairman of NUPENG, Shell branch, Comrade Fidelis Okaudeji expelled by the union for anti-union activities and his loyalists out of the fire service department leaving members of the caretaker committee vulnerable while hiding under the guise of divestment to severe the services of the union officials.

The statement urged the SPDC management to rescind the decision to severe the services of the union officials.

It called upon the SPDC management to abide by the on-going dialogue in line with the directive of the Minister of Labour to look at the unwholesome labour practices in SPDC with a view to addressing the situation.