The workers sacked by Chevron Nigeria Limited have all resumed at their various duty posts after a face-off between the company and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Chevron Nigeria had targeted NUPENG-affiliated staff in its quest to reduce the staff strength due to cut in the company’s operations in the oil and gas industry.
However, the new development shown that an agreement has been reached between both parties, the National Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale, said on Monday.
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The back story: Chevron Nigeria had revealed its intention to sack 70% of its contract staff in line with the plan to reduce operation but a negotiation brokered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and the Ministry of Labour led to the signing of an agreement between the company and NUPENG.
- It was agreed that only 30% of the Labour Manpower Contract Workers would be relieved.of their jobs.
- Of the 1,856 contract workers in the company, NUPENG has 1,120; Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has 213, while non-unionised staff are 523. It was agreed that the 30% reduction shall be spread in equal percentage among the three groups.
- It was also agreed that union executives in NUPENG and PENGASSAN)would not be affected by the reduction.
- The agreement also had it that anyone that voluntarily offers to go would be counted as part of the agreed 30%.
Plot twist: Chevron was accused of acting against the agreement by sacking only NUPENG members. This led to a call for a nationwide protest on Tuesday. But that was suspended after the NNPC intervention.
The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, acted as the intermediary between Chevron Nigeria and NUPENG. This led to the recall of the sacked staff.
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Speaking on the development, Olawale said: “A lot of progress has been made. First, we suspended the planned industrial action, based on the intervention of the GMD, NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari. Meetings have been held with the management of Chevron Nigeria. They sent a representative.
“I am happy to tell you that we have signed a new agreement which still consists of our earlier demands. It was due to the breach of the old agreement that warranted the signing of a new agreement.
“Our union members that were sacked have been asked to return to work. We thank the GMD, NNPC, for his intervention. He was quite instrumental to the success recorded in ending the NUPENG-CNL face-off.”