Nigerian Oil Workers Union to Start strike on wednesday

Nigerian Oil Workers Union to Start Strike on Wednesday

03-18-2008

Nigeria's white-collar oil workers union, PENGASSAN (Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria), has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike that can cripple the country's oil production and petroleum distribution from Wednesday.

The union said in a statement that the strike was being called to protest the alleged plan by Mobil Oil Nigeria plc to sack its members, including all the branch executive officers and the national treasurer of the union.

The strike notice followed the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued to the oil company to stop ''unfriendly'' labour practices.

Mobil's External Relations Officer, Akin Fatunke, denies the allegation, saying everyone, including the union, was carried along in the company's efforts to rationalize its staff in order to deploy a new technology, Software Application Program (SAP).