PROTEST ROCKS UNIVERSAL ENERGY

… As Workers Sealed off Headquarters, Halt Production

Frustrated by the unlabour practices of its Management, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) branch of the Universal Energy Resources Limited (UERL), sealed off the company’s Headquarters, Uyo, to protest the development and assault by the Finance Director, Mr. Basil Monwe. 

Gathered as early as 7am, the aggrieved workers chanted solidarity songs and moved peacefully with placards that read: “We condemn Management unwillingness to negotiate Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Union. This is anti-Labour; Who owns Universal Energy? Is it Akwa Ibom State Government or Seven Energy? Akwa Ibom must know; Stop threat to life, victimization, tribal sentiment, FD must go; Universal Energy/Seven Energy Management does not respect communiqués and tripartite agreements; Say no to Seven Energy Slavery; Seven Energy don’t kill UERL.” 

Top on the minds of the protesters were the issue of abuse of its members by the Finance Director, Mr. Basil Monwe; casualization of staff and outsourcing of manpower, and over deduction of its members’ allowances and pension. Also, the protesters expressed their displeasure over what they described as ‘unLabour disposition’ of its Management, which recently announced commencement of crude oil production from its Stubb Creek Field following the approval to embark on delivery of oil through the ExxonMobil’s Qua Iboe Terminal, which came on stream in early February 2015. 

Lamenting a promised First-Oil-Bonus, a protester, who does not want his name published, said “there is only one solution to this problem. The Management must be sincere to all its policies thereby treating its staff as human.” When contacted, the branch Chairman of the Union, Comrade Edidiong Uyouko, said the protest was as result of “Management consistent and deliberate refusal to re-negotiate on expired Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that is subsisting, non-implementation of clauses in the CBA, refusal to address 26 outstanding wage re-opener items.” “Our protest today is as a result of Management refusal to honour and implement tripartite agreement, victimization of our Union members by the Finance Director, Mr. Basil Monwe, refusal to train staff and unfair labour practices by Management,” he stressed.

Effort to speak with company’s Project Manager, Engr. Steve Okoko, proved abortive, however, its Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Aniefiok Iwaudofia, said the protest was a husband-wife quarrel, adding that Management was ever ready to better and improve working conditions and welfare of its staff Mr. Iwaudofia urged the protesters not to aid the destruction of life and property while bringing to bare their grievances and assured that Management was seriously looking into the issues raised by the union.

Source: Eyo Ibom Telegraph