PETROLEUM and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has threatened to shut down all operations of Mobil Oil Nigeria across the country any moment from now over alleged unfair labour practices especially unresolved issues of collective agreement .
Vanguard findings revealed that the workers have a 16-point grievances with the management of Mobil Oil and that the national secretariat of the PENGASSAN had actually given the management of Mobil Oil a 21-day ultimatum that would expire this Friday.
Acting President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Peter Esele, told Vanguard that the union had intimated the Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity over the matter and members fully mobilised for a show down with management once the ultimatum expires by April 14 (this Friday).
In fact, a source at the national secretary of the union told Vanguard in confidence that a total shut down of all operations of Mobil Oil Nigeria is imminent unless there is positive a development.
According to Comrade Esele, all attempts made so far to progressively resolve all the breaches in line with Section 60 of the workers� collective agreement which he said had elapsed over a year had been rebuffed by Management.
Some of the grievances, he said include: �Violation of House Ownership Scheme- Mobil management unilaterally appropriated the arrrears of the recent increment in housing allowance meant for the benefit of our members to offset an existing loan which is already being deducted from monthly salaries with flagrant disregard of due process discussions and agreement with the Association. Stoppage/suspension of house ownership scheme to qualified members with flagrant disregard of due process discussions and agreement with the Association, while the subsisting Company policy and Collective Agreement have not been changed. Pension and Gratuity – Management has thus far, refused to discuss and carry along/agree with the Association before going to the Pension Commission/Pension Fund Administrator(s) to seek for exemption on continuing with our existing negotiated policy, as well as choose a PFA.
This is in violation of the provisions of the Pension Act.� �Merit Increase/PADP scope and limits distortions and violations. Refusal to allow a fair appraisal process, and merit increase exercise handled disadvantageously and discriminationally against Union Executives and other members. Issuance of letters of corrective action without basis. Violation of End of Service Benefits, Termination/Separation and Redundancy in the Collective Agreement. Management unilaterally revised and backdated existing Policies which is in conflict with the Collective� Continuing, the Acting President noted that the issue of collective agreement violations – �Refusal to produce Employee Handbook since 2003 as agreed by Management and the Association. Protracted Negotiations – Management unwilling to negotiate in good faith and conclude the 2005/2006 negotiations Persistent intimidation, harassment and molestation of members and Association Executives with consistent violation of the Collective agreement.
This is a violation of ExxonMobil harrassment policy, and renders same ineffective. Denial of retired member employees their medical benefits in contravention of the Collective Agreement provisions. Contrary to the general norm, retired Mobil employees are refused medical treatment. De-skilling and Company/Management policy influenced redundancies of employees.
Recent/newly introduced global technology (STRIPES) which is geared towards efficiency/productivity improvement in Company processes; this might lead to job losses of up to 50% of current senior staff strenght of about 220. Non implementation of provisions of the Collective Agreement on change in benefits, salaries, wages and other work conditions caused by Government legislation and pronouncements, or other change of circumstances in the industry – fuel increases, erosion of take home pay.�