NUPENG shuts down Total Plc over sacked workers

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Thursday ordered stoppage of loading activities at all Total Nig. Ltd depots nationwide over termination of workers’ appointments.

This is according to a statement signed by Tokunbo Korodo, south-west chairman of the union, and made available to journalists in Lagos.

Korodo said the management of Total had been resisting the unionisation of workers under its contract programme in Lagos, Kaduna and Koko in Delta blending plants.

He said the management of Total had moved further to terminate those workers who had joined the union in spite of the union efforts to resolve the issue amicably.

“In view of this, the union has directed all workers in Total downstream to stop work until the management allows workers to unionise and slave labour introduced are cancelled,” he said.

“This action should commence immediately.”

Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent who visited Total Blending Plant at Kirikiri, Apapa, observed that workers blocked the entrance of the gate with two trailers.

The workers were seen with various placards bearing inscriptions such as: “Nigerians enslaving Nigerians in Nigeria”, “Total and Jomog want to sack us because we joined NUPENG”.

Rotimi Benjamin, zonal vice-chairman, south west chapter of NUPENG, said the management of Total had summoned the union to a meeting to resolve the issue.

Benjamin, however, said that the union would not go back on his action until all the issues were resolved.