[dropcap]A[/dropcap]nother sign of fuel scarcity looms as Port-Harcourt Zone of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) has threatened to go on strike for alleged sack of 300 of its members by some oil companies. The union has issued a 7-day ultimatum for oil companies to reinstate the jobs of their members.
The Port-Harcout Zonal Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor made this known during a meeting at Port-Harcourt on Friday. He urged the FG to prevail on international oil companies operating in the country to stop the ongoing retrenchment and casualisation of oil workers to avoid further loss of jobs. He also called on the Ministry of Labour and Productivity to prevail on the firms to reinstate the workers.
His words, “A seven-day ultimatum is hereby issued for unlawfully disengaging our union members. Over 300 of our members were disengaged by some oil companies. We will embark on an indefinite strike if these companies do not reinstate these workers.“If by midnight of Monday, July 9, 2018, the concerns of the union are not addressed by these companies, the union shall have no choice but to embark on an indefinite industrial action until our grievances are addressed.“We are calling and directing tanker drivers, drilling workers and pump attendants to withdraw their services if there is no counter-notice to this,” Agwanwor said.
The union at the national level has expressed its support for the planned indefinite strike as NUPENG Deputy National President, Bassey Harry called on the government and Ministry of Labour to salvage the situation within seven days.