Union protests sack of 4,000 workers at Chevron

Oluremilekun Osobu-Asubiojo

Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL,has sacked about 4,000 workers without pension and gratuity.

The President of National Union of Pertroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) of the Labour Union of Chevron, Boniface Nwaogu, disclosed this at the peaceful protest at Chevron office in Lekki, Lagos, South West, and Nigeria.

According to Nwaogu, the Labour Union kicked against the inconsiderate laying off, manpower replacement and conversion of the 6 labour contracts, namely Astral Contracting,J2 Construction, Delog Nigeria Limited,T.Amussah, Tobinsco Nigeria Limited and Gladwyn Industries Limited.

He pointed that these labour contracts employed by Chevron have ensured adequate service delivery to Chevron organization as a body since inception.

He condemned Chevron action and described the action as injustice to human service, labour and dignity.

“After years of service, employees are inconsiderately laid off from level 14 below without retirement benefits and gratuity. While as from level 15 and above are considerably compensated with retirement benefits’’.

Also speaking at the event was Financial Secretary of the Labour Union, Sheula Ajibola he stated that the case has been in court with Chevron intervention to breach its course .

“The case is in court presently and it has been adjourned till February 2013.And Chevron has instructed the salary-agent arm of its organization to pay off the staff.
The union is against this action. The union is of the agreement that the law of the country must work. When a case is in court one must allow its duration. But Chevron is breeching the gap’, he said.

The Zonal Assistant General Secretary, Christopher Akpebe pointed out that the conversion of labour contract to service contract is to prevent individual participation in the union force and unity, which is unachievable in the service contract.

Speaking on the way forward, Comrade Philip Idogbe, the Zonal Secreatary emphasized on the continuation of the peaceful demonstration of the union with day-to day mapping out of strategies for the struggle.

“The struggle continues until Chevron Nigeria Limited honor the current collective bargaining agreement that the workers have with the 6 labour contractors. And all workers will be paid their gratuity. And the eligible workers will be paid their retirement benefits if they wish to retire, if Chevron must change.
Nwaogu advocated the change will absorb everyone in the transition to one of the new contracts rather being asked to leave or leave without benefits.