The Tide Online
Halt retrenchment in Shell, TUC urges FG
Sunday, Jun 8, 2008
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the Federal Government to halt the planned mass retrenchment in Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Shell, had in May, announced plans to sack 2,000 Nigerians of its 7, 000 workforce.
Shell has diverse interests in Nigeria which include both upstream and downstream activities. It is the largest oil company in the Nigerian petroleum industry, with operations dating back to over 50 years.
The problem of the Niger Delta is not enough to dislodge 2,000 workers at a time the federal government is working hard to find a lasting solution to the impasse, TUC said in a statement.
The statement, signed by TUCs General Secretary, Chief John Kolawole said the government as a major stakeholder in the oil and gas industry should prevail on Shell to drop the plan in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.
According to TUC, any retrenchment will worsen the bad industrial climate in the Niger-Delta.
It accused Shell of repatriating huge profits from its oil exploration and exploitation and paying fantastic salaries to its expatriate staff at the expense of Nigerians.
The union, which said it would support any action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria on the matter, accused Shell of using Nigerian workers as guinea pigs.
The statement urged the federal government to join hands with the unions to ensure the success of the proposed national stakeholders’ summit on the region.
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