By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is set to begin a three-day nationwide warning strike today.
Leaders of the body directed its members across the country to observe the industrial action, though the Federal Government has been working to avert this so as not to plunge the sector into another crisis.
But the oil and gas union is taking this step because of the disputes it has with International Oil Companies (IOCs) over the alleged indiscriminate sack of workers without benefits and refusal to allow their workers to join union.
NUPENG is aggrieved that some of the IOCs, including Exxon/Mobil and Chevron Nigeria Limited, do not give regards to it and its members.
This has pitched it against the firms. The union claims the companies carry out unfair labour practices and breach of Nigerian extant labour laws in their divestment exercises.
Chevron was alleged to have sacked over 300 NUPENG members without benefits late last year and efforts by the union for them to be recalled proved abortive.
It was also gathered that the directive by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, that all parties return to status quo was not heeded to by the Chevron after the union called off its action against the company in obedience to the ministry’s directive.
Similarly, Mobil in December 14, 2016, sacked over 100 workers without following laid down procedure, according to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN.
The union accused the management of Mobil of flagrant violation of Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development, NOGICD, Act of 2010, by deploying expatriates to take over jobs for which there is local capacity.
Adedapo Adesanya