Few days after the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers threatened to embark on a nationwide strike over the sack of about 500 workers by Chevron, the union has rescinded the decision to embark on the strike.
The suspension of the planned industrial action was revealed in a statement issued on Friday by the Union’s President, Williams Akporeha and the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale.
According to NUPENG, the decision to suspend the proposed strike slated to commence on August 6, was anchored on the intervention by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari and the management team.
The statements read:“Following the intervention of the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, and his management team to avert the proposed industrial action of NUPENG over the blatant breach of agreement reached with the union by Chevron Nigeria Limited and its contractor and considering the fact that appreciable progress is being made as discussions continue, the union hereby suspends with immediate effect the planned industrial action slated for next week.”
The back story: NUPENG threatened to embark on industrial action over a dispute with Chevron.
- The union accused United States oil corporation of sacking hundreds of Nigerian workers and altering contracts, both of which were reportedly in violation of the industry agreement.
- The union, in a statement issued on Thursday, made several demands which included that all “NUPENG executives” should return to work. The union stated that 500 of its members had been removed from their posts, although it was not clear if they were all executives.
[READ MORE: Why NUPENG threatens to embark on strike]
The Intervention: The union further revealed that it had made progress as discussions had continued on the issue before the timely intervention. Although the union had wanted the Federal Government to compel Chevron Nigeria Limited into honouring the agreement reached with the union.
“It should be put on record that this abrupt suspension became inevitable due largely to the timely intervention of NNPC having engaged NUPENG and all concerned stakeholders at two separate meetings on Thursday and Friday to correct the anomalies and ensure that the agreement is respected.
“All our members are directed to step down the red alert message and should continue rendering their normal and lawful services to the nation,” NUPENG added.
What next: The union urged the public to avoid panic while assuring that normal supply and distribution of petroleum products would continue nationwide.
- NUPENG also said it considered the collateral economic damage the industrial unrest could possibly cause if not immediately nipped in the bud.
- Meanwhile, the union had expressed optimism that the ongoing negotiations between NUPENG, NNPC and Chevron would meet its members’ demands.
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