The industrial action embarked upon by the senior staff of Addax petroleum has taken a new dimension as striking members were allegedly served a ‘No work No Pay’ letter by the management of the company.
But, the association’s spokesperson, Mr. Agwu, said the union has already sent a response to Addax management stating the ‘no work no pay’ threat letter was “completely unacceptable to the workers”.
Recall that last week the Addax Petroleum Chapter of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) called out its members nationwide on an indefinite strike action over “some unresolved burning issues”.
Some of the issues raised by the striking workers include
- The unilateral interpretation of the subsisting collective bargaining agreement (CBA) reached between the union and management in August 2014 on issues bordering on activation of non-statutory remuneration to its members.
- Stagnation of some staff for between 10 to 12 years.
- Victimisation of union leaders identified as not working in line with management interest.
The continued industrial action may threaten the country’s oil output as the company currently produces 30,000 barrels daily of oil from its offshore and onshore locations in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Warri, and Izombe in the Niger Delta.
Addax Petroleum was originally part of the Addax and Oryx Group of Companies (AOG) which were established in 1987, but the company became an independent entity in 1994.
In August 2009, it was bought over by Sinopec, the world’s biggest oil refiner. Addax was initially focused on the oil and gas in the Middle East, the North Sea, and Africa, but has recently focused its effort on West Africa.
In 2017, the company’s former chief executive was arrested and tried for corrupt practices he allegedly carried out while working in Nigeria.
