Olumide Lawal
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Thursday ordered stoppage of loading activities at all Total Nigeria Limited, depots nationwide over termination of workers appointment.
The NUPENG’s action was coming a week after it ordered closure of the oil’s company’s lubricant section over the same reason, warning that a full closure would occur if Total fails to rescind its decision.
The South-West Chairman of the union, Tokunbo Korodo, confirmed the development in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.
Korodo said the management of Total has been resisting unionisation of workers under its contract programme in Lagos, Kaduna and Koko in Delta blending plants.
He said the management of Total had moved further to terminate those workers who had joined NUPENG in spite of its efforts to resolve the issue amicably.
“In view of this, the union has directed all workers in Total downstream to stop work until the management allows workers to unionise and slave labour introduced are cancelled. This action should commence immediately,” he said.
It was gathered that workers blocked entrance of Total Blending Plant at Kirikiri, Apapa gate with two trailers.
It was further gathered that the workers were carrying placards with inscriptions: “Nigerians enslaving Nigerians in Nigeria, “Total and Jomog want to sack us because we joined NUPENG”.
Speaking on the development, Zonal Vice-Chairman, South West Chapter of NUPENG, Rotimi Benjamin, said that the management of Total had summoned the union to a meeting to resolve the issue.
Benjamin, however, said that the union would not go back on his action until all the issues were resolved.
