NUPENG WARNS CHEVRON MGT ON DEPLOYMENT OF SOLDIERS TO INSTALLATIONS

http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/blog/?attachment_id=121892 The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) has warned the management of Chevron on the sudden deployment of soldiers and other security agencies to its installations in Escravos, Warri, Port Harcourt and other locations.

The oil workers' union in a statement signed by its Acting General Secretary, Comrade Isaac Aberare, said;' We warn that the flooding of Chevron installations with soldiers and denial of over 1,700 contract workers access to these installations may lead to serious industrial relations crisis that will not augur well for the oil and gas industry, if any of them is harmed.

'We state that the discussions of the end of contract of the big six in Chevron, especially on the labour related issues is still on-going and co-ordinated by the group executive director, corporate services of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).'

According to him, the brokered talks on the labour related issues were to have been completed on December 31, 2012, but agreement had not been reached.

'The union reiterates that it submitted a proposal for transition discussion which started on December 18, 2012, and with the intervention of NNPC, discussions were held on December 27 and 28 with no agreement reached.

'The union frowns at the sudden deployment of troops to Chevron installations when a follow-up meeting has been scheduled for January 7, 2013 in Abuja. This action of Chevron is uncalled for when agreement on labour related issues has not been concluded.

'The union  is advising Chevron management to have faith in the discussions brokered by the NNPC and put any action on hold like denying the contract workers access to its installations and wait for the outcome of the January 7, 2013, meeting in Abuja to resolve the impasse,' he added.

The union therefore called on the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police not to allow their men to be used by Chevron to harass  members in its installations.