Unions Threaten Strike Over Anti-Labour Practices

The Joint Action Committee of two industrial unions, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has threatened to embark on a three day warming strike commencing from February 13, in protest against what they termed anti-Labour Practices by companies operating at Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Onne, Rivers State.

In an interview with The Tide the Zonal Chairman NUPENG, Comrade Godwin Eruba said companies operating at the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Onne have failed to comply with the country’s Labour Law.

Comrade Eruba said members of the two unions are frequently sacked for engaging in union activities by the management of the companies operating at the Free Trade  Zone without due regard to the country Labour Law.

He said such tendencies must be checked to protect the workers against injustice and impunity by the companies management, stressing that the workers have right to unionize.

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee said the three day warning industrial action will affect the entire South-East and South-South states except Delta and Edo States.

The Unions said if after the three days warning strike no concrete step was taken to correct the injustice by the companies management operating in Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a full blown industrial action affecting the whole country and including but not limited to total shut down of the oil and gas production will be embarked upon.

The Unions said the strike was in compliance with an earlier directive of the November 16, 2012 Joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of both the two Unions NUPENG and PENGASSAN held in Calabar Cross River State which approved a three weeks ultimatum to companies operating in the FTZ  to allow unionization in compliance with the country’s Labour Law.

The Unions expressed dismay that  despite the expiration of the Union two months ultimatum, companies and government agencies operating at FTZ have refused to do anything to redress the  unwholesome situation.

Philip Okparaji