WARRI—LEADERS of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday directed all members in Warri zone comprising Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ekiti and Kogi states to begin an indefinite industrial action tomorrow, over alleged refusal of Pat Onosen Enterprises Nigeria Limited and Chevron Nigeria to honour a collective bargaining agreement reached by the parties.
At an emergency meeting of leaders of Warri zone of NUPENG, yesterday, members were directed from mid-night today, to shut down operations and commence an indefinite strike to compel both Chevron and Pat Onosen Enterprises Nigeria Limited, a contractor to Chevron Nigeria Limited to honour the said the agreement.
A resolution reached at the end of the meeting and signed by Comrade Edmond Ofudje, Comrade Otite Onohwhohwo, Chairman and Senior Assistant General Secretary, Warri zone respectively, read in part: “April 7, 2010, an emergency Zonal Council meeting was called to discuss among other things, the case of the violation of the CBA signed between PAT Onosen Enterprises Nigeria Limited (a Contractor with Chevron Nigeria Limited) and Pat Onosen branch of NUPENG.
At the meeting, efforts by the leadership of the Union in the zone to patiently dialogue and bring the management of Pat Onosen and Chevron to see reason to honour the sanctity of CBA signed was debated. Furthermore, propositions put forward by the Union to amicably and peacefully resolve the issues with both concerting managements were x-rayed on the basis of mutual benefit.
“Therefore, when it became clear that all efforts by NUPENG had been rebuffed by management who were already perfecting tactics to permanently disadvantage our members; and perpetually make Nigerian workers slaves in the oil and gas industry, the council had to resolve as follows: That the management of Pat Onosen Enterprises Nigeria Limited And Chevron Nigeria Lmimted should respect the sanctity of the CBA signed in 2007 and implement same immediately in the interest of industrial peace and harmony That all branches of the union across the Zone (Warri Zone of NUPENG), are by this resolution of the Warri Zonal Council, directed to join the industrial action from Friday April 9, 2010 in solidarity with our Pat Onosen comrades.
Council also calls on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the managements of Pat Onosen Enterprises Nigeria Limited and Chevron Nigeria Limited to respect the signed CBA.
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