16th September, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers State branch of National Union Petroleum and Natural Gas workers Wednesday disrupted business activities at Chevron office in Trans Amadi Industrial East, Port Harcourt, Rivers State over alleged unwholesome industrial practices against workers.
During the protest no one was allowed in or out of the offices of Chevron in Port Harcourt.
The Port Harcourt zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Comrade Godwin Eruba, had complained that that Chevron had been maltreating its staff by cutting their salaries without consultation with the workers and blocking all avenues for dialogue.
He said that after the picketing of Chevron, members will in solidarity with Chevron colleagues embark on strike by refusing to lift petroleum products.
Eruba lashed at the management of Chevron for its arrogance and intransigence when it refused to honour a meeting called by Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for dialogue on the issues concerning its workers.
He asked Nigerians to prevail on Chevron management now and should not blame NUPENG when the hardship of impending strike starts biting hard on the public.
“All these things are happening and nobody is asking questions and make us look like fools. Then we are going to stop petroleum products. That is the only alternative we are getting into in the next few days. Therefore, its an opportunity now for the state and Federal Government to intervene and call Chevron to order because on our own part we have done what all we need to do.
“We didn’t want people to suffer on account of Chevron but we don’t have no choice than to stay at home and the consequences will be obvious,” Eruba vowed.
The picketing of Chevron Wednesday by members of NUPENG will be extended to Chevron offices in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Escravos and Abuja.