Tina Amanda
The National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers, NUPENG has threatened to join its Sister Union, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN to embark on strike if the lingering Labour issues concerning its members are not properly addressed.
National Treasurer NUPENG, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, in an interview with our correspondent, said NUPENG and PENGANSSAN have an understanding that all anti-union matters bothering on their members must be resolved.
According to him, some Multi-National Oil Companies have for long been carrying out anti-labour actions against Union members, such as unlawful termination, retrenchment without benefits, amongst others.
“There are lots of lingering labour issues we have been sorting out with some Multi-national companies in regards to our members, which have to do with anti-union practices. PENGANSSAN and NUPENG as Union bodies want to ensure those issues are well addressed.
“PENGANSSAN has started its strike yesterday, but NUPENG is still carrying out consultation in our national executive council, for now, we are not on strike.
“We condemn what the companies are doing and we are in full support of our sister Union strike action, and we may likely join them”
He, however, warned residents of Rivers State against panic buying of fuel as the public will be duly informed of any strike action by the Union.
“The public should not panic in terms of Petroleum Product scarcity before the Union will embark on strike action and knowing the importance of our sector, we will definitely inform the general public, so they too would be prepared for it. For now, we are not on strike”
Meanwhile, State Chairman of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN, Dr Obele Ngechu, told our correspondent that the Union has no affiliation with PENGANSSAN and thereby does not intend to embark on any strike action.
He noted that it is only when NUPENG embarks on strike that petroleum Marketers will be affected.
He assured the public that there will be no scarcity of the product as the Union has not embarked on strike.
“There is no scarcity at the moment, PENGANSSAN is not affiliated to IPMAN. Our affiliation is with NUPENG, so we have no relationship with PENGANSSAN. If the strike was organised by NUPENG then I can boldly say Petroleum Marketers will be affected.
“The truth remains that the Senior staff in all the loading Bay or Depot are members of PENGANSSAN, so their staying at home invariably will truncate loading of petroleum products”
