Tina Amanda
In commemorating the International Workers Day, State Chairman of the United Labour Congress, ULC, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, has urged its members to remain steadfast in their struggle for a better work force, amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Comrade Agwanwor who stated this while fielding questions from our correspondent Tina Amanda, said its Union members have been at the forefront fighting to save the lives of people from Coronavirus.
According to him, oil workers have taken risks to be in the rig despite COVID-19 threat to life so as to sustain the economy of the nation.
“We have to applaud workers for the effort they have made to sustain the economy both in the state and across the nation. As United Labour Congress work force, we have made serious impacts in the growth of the economy and our health workers have been in the frontline fighting to make sure people are not infected with COVID-19, those infected are being saved.
“Our workers in the oil and gas sector have been helping to sustain the economy by being at work despite the health and safety challenges, they still take the risk of working offshore so that the economy does not totally crumble, even though there is drastic drop in oil price in the world’s market”
He however commended the state government for its effort in the fight against COVID-19 spread in the state, while urging its members to keep observing all preventive measures.
On his part, Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman, NUPENG, Comrade Mina Samuel, said the COVID-19 pandemic has really affected oil workers, as most Oil companies are retrenching workers.
“It is quite unfortunate that this COVID-19 pandemic is really telling hard on our members in the oil industry, companies are now retrenching and putting our workers on redundant instead of given them palliatives. It is a huge challenge to the union and in fact, it is regrettable the way and manner companies, top managements are carrying out these actions on our workers”
