Nigerian Oil Workers Threaten Walkout

Nigeria’s senior oil workers union is threatening a nationwide strike to protest the firing of some of its members by ExxonMobil. Members are to meet later Tuesday, following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued by the union to the oil company to desist from what the union termed “unfriendly” labor practices.

Officials of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association have been meeting top government officials in Abuja to avert the planned strike.

Union President Peter Esele denied reports the walkout is to begin Wednesday. He says his group, one of Nigeria’s two biggest oil unions, will attend a meeting Wednesday called by the government .


“I had a meeting with NSA [national security advisor] yesterday, and DG [Director General], SSS [State Security Service]. So what the government is doing is to call parties for a meeting for Wednesday 4:00 PM,” he said. “But sincerely speaking, I do not know where the press got Wednesday for strike. One thing we said was that there was a looming strike. We have not, the Central Working Committee, taken a date for a strike.”

The union is protesting ExxonMobil job cuts that affected about 60 workers, mostly union officials working at the company.

VOA