ANOTHER round of industrail crisis capable of crippling commercial activities in Delta State is about to blow up as the Zonal Council of NUPENG and PENGASSAN yesterday threatened severe consequences if the management of Conoil/Belbop Nigeria Limited goes ahead with its proposed termination of the appointment of all Union members in violation of extant labour laws, directives of the Federal Ministry of Labour and the National Industrial Court Order of June 2007.
NUPENG and PENGASSAN have also called on all branches/members in Warri zone to be on red alert and await further directives on actions to be taken soon as directed by the National secretariats.
In a press statement made available to newsmen in Warri yesterday and signed by Comrade (Rev.) J.B. Asemota, Chairman, NUPENG, Warri Zone and Comrade Nicholas Nkwocha, Chairman, PENGASSAN, Warri Zone respectively, they alleged that all union members have been locked outside without salaries since August 2007 even as management have refuse to enter into negotiations with the Unions.
According to the statement, management has gone ahead to issue notices of redundancy of its workforce while at the same time conducting recruitment for new employees.
They also alleged that since 2000 till date management has refused to implement agreement and communiques reached with the unions on some issues like payment of employees leave allowances; arbitrary reduction of salary by 30% in December 2006 and refusal to conclude 2006 wage re-oponer negotiation.
Other issues allegedly not attended to by management include; employees home ownership grant, insurance scheme, long service award and staff car loan scheme.
The unions therefore called on well meaning Nigerians and the general public to prevail on the management of Belbop/Conoil to drop the idea of arbitrary severance of its member�s appointment to avoid an unfathomable industrail crisis just as it advises the management to adhere to due process in all her actions on the vex issues at stake.
Oct42007