PENGASSAN threatens fresh action against Neconde Energy
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Monday served a 72-hour notice to resume hostility against Neconde Energy Limited, over an alleged violation of agreement bordering on termination of appointment of workers.
The union said it was ready to call out members on an industrial action against the company as well as disrupt gas and oil supply if the sacked workers were not recalled within 72 hours from yesterday.
The threat comes two weeks after the union suspended an earlier action embarked upon to protest “anti-labour practices” of Neconde Energy Limited.
According to Abel Agarin, Lagos zonal chairman of PENGASSAN, the action of the management of Neconde Energy is tantamount to a violation of the terms and tenets of a communiqué both parties signed on May 18, 2017, to suspend the picketing of the company.
Agarin said, “In the communiqué which was signed by the representatives of the company led by its board secretary, Val Uche- Obi, who signed on behalf of the chairman Neconde Energy Limited, Ernest Azudialu, and the chief executive officer, Frank Edozie, among others and PENGASSAN representatives led by chairman, PENGASSAN Lagos zone, Abel Agarin, among others. It was agreed that nobody will be victimised on the ground of the industrial action.”
The union alleged that the company terminated the employment of five members on June 1, 2017 based on the industrial actions.
“It is our position that the termination exercise is unlawful, not in line with equity, good conscience, industrial relations best practices and extant labour laws. We are aware of the efforts by Neconde management to balkanise the union and we are categorically saying that this will be vehemently resisted,” Agarin said.
It would be recalled that the recent industrial action commenced on May 15, 2017 with the picketing of the premises of Neconde simultaneously in Lagos and Warri.
The union had accused the Neconde Energy of forceful restructuring (evidenced in realignment, grade categorisation and harmonisation of salary structure and downgrade of conditions of service/contractual terms of employment), lack of evidence (TCC) of employee tax (PAYE) remittance in Lagos and Delta State since 2012, non-payment of field allowances since August 2016, forceful and immediate transfer of union members (including pregnant women) from Lagos to Warri office with no consideration of impact on families, among others.
JOSHUA BASSEY