Tejiri Ebikeme
Another Fuel Crisis is now looming as oil workers under NUPENG, have commenced a solidarity strike action to demand for inconclusive transaction issues with the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL).
Already, the strike action is taking its toll on the people as most filling stations are now under lock and key, while few ones are selling a litre of fuel for between N100 and N110 amidst long queues.
The solidarity strike is being held by oil workers from the Warri, Port-Harcourt and Lagos zones of NUPENG.
Addressing the aggrieved oil workers drawn from Chevron and other oil servicing firms, the Warri Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Comrade Cogent Ojobor said the indefinite strike will continue until the alleged injustice by the oil company was addressed.
He explained that the union had written several letters and held series of meetings with the management of Chevron over the year, adding that the current indefinite strike had also come to the notice of the oil company.
Comrade Ojobor urged the oil workers to defend their dignity as they continue to demand fair treatment from the multinational oil firm.
Among the demand of the workers are reinstatement of Comrade Ada, payment of 2013 leave allowance and payment of the end of contract allowance, job classification as well as full payment for shift allowance.
The union also frowned at the alleged creation of parallel branches of workers by the oil company and vowed to resist any attempt to divide NUPENG.
Other officials of the union, who spoke at the solidarity strike held at the entrance of Chevron on the NPA express, expressed displeasure at the companys retirement policy and appealed to the NUPENG leadership to address the issue headlong.
Officials of Chevron Nigeria Limited could not be immediately reached, but sources close to the company told our correspondent that the Director of Human Resources was aware of the demands of the aggrieved oil workers.
