United States oil supermajor, Chevron, has declared that it has started engaging the oil workers’ union and its independent contractor company who sacked 175 staff hitherto working for it on Chevron’s platform in Nigeria.
The union known as National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) issued a seven-day warning strike threat over the sack of the staff and in a reaction to enquiry made by Platforms Africa on the 7-day strike, General Manager- Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, ESIMAJE BRIKINN, insisted that the Contractor company for Chevron and not Chevron was the employer of the sacked workers.
Nonetheless, he added, “we are engaging the leaders of the Union and the contractor company to fully understand and seek amicable resolution of the issues.”
BRIKINN said; “Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and CNL (NNPC/CNL JV), confirms that, it is aware of media reports based on a press release by the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) (“the Union”), issuing a 7-day nationwide strike warning to CNL over allegations of the sack of their members._
*CNL did not sack any contract worker. We understand that an independent contractor providing services to CNL released its own workers following suspension of the service contract agreement between the contractor company and CNL
“CNL is a responsible and law-abiding company. In keeping with our commitment to resolving issues through meaningful dialogue and respect for the rule of law, we are engaging the leaders of the Union and the contractor company to fully understand and seek amicable resolution of the issues.
“The company’s highest priority remains the welfare and safety of its employees, contractors and the security of its assets. We will therefore do our best to safeguard these interests.”
