Tanker Drivers Threaten Strike Over Poor Working Conditions

Tanker Drivers Threaten Strike Over Poor Working Conditions

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has said petroleum tanker drivers will on Monday 3rd of April, 2017 embark on an indefinite strike action over deplorable working conditions with regards to poor remuneration, insecurity amongst others.

This was disclosed yesterday in Lagos by NUPENG President, Comrade Igwe Achese during the Central Working Committee meeting (CWC) of the union.

He said, “The union during the CWC-in-session examined the various complaints and agitations of Petroleum Tanker Drivers members of the union over their deplorable working conditions with regards to poor remuneration, insecurity on the highways, poor State of the roads, absence of conducive rest places on the highways and excesses of some security agencies most especially the Nigeria civil defence corps.

“The session also considered inhumane, the refusal of National Association of Road Transport Owner ( NARTO) to commence negotiation with the union for the renewal of the expired collective bargaining agreement on the working conditions of tanker drivers members in PTD branch after several appeals and even ultimatum.

“The CWC-in-session therefore resolved to give full backing to any industrial action the members in the sector might decide to take.”

Achese said to avert the pains and discomfort the action might cause, NUPENG called on Federal Government to urgently intervene and meets NARTO obligations to tanker drivers.

He added that the union noted with deep concern the continuous and increasing spate of redundancies and closures in the oil and gas industry, most especially within the international oil companies in the producing and service sector of the industry.

“The session find situation very disturbing the helplessness of the supervising ministries in intervening and apprehending unfortunate slide in the employment situations in the industry with several job losses despite the assurances and directive of the minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige,”.

NUPENG called on Federal Government to urgently intervene to stem the tide and prevail on OIC’s and service companies to stop the current spate of retrenchment and redundancies in the sector.