Protesting workers of Nigerian Agip Oil Company on Wednesday barricaded the entrance of the company�s head office in Port Harcourt to press home demand for improved welfare.
The workers, who began a strike last Monday, also vowed to sustain the action until the oil firm met their demands.
Our correspondent, who visited the premises located on Rumueme, Mile Four, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the workers were peaceful.
Riot and regular policemen guarding the premises did not interfere with the workers� protest, as it was not violent.
But the workers did not allow our correspondent access to the company�s premises while their leaders refused to talk to journalists.
The Zonal Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Mr. Alex Kalazu, said the strike was embarked upon because of the non-implementation of certain agreements reached between the staff and the management of the oil company some years ago.
Kalazu regretted that the management had allowed the issues to linger for too long thereby necessitating a strike.
The PENGASSAN chairman said however that the company had begun discussion with the workers� union with a view to calling off the strike.
He said that the resolution of the matter would depend on the disposition of the management to the issues at stake.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that a meeting to resolve the matter ended in a deadlock in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and that another one was slated for Wednesday in Lagos.
The workers are protesting the non-implementation of a pay rise policy and the company�s failure to give generating sets to workers in the Niger Delta.
No official of the company could be reached for comments as the security-men at the entrance, said there was no authority for any visitor to enter the premises during the strike.