Some 1,444
staff fired from the oil firm Mobil in
Akwa Ibom have demanded to be paid N11.4 billion in terminal benefits
and compensation.
Previously
engaged as contract staff, the workers said they were laid off without
entitlements due them, violating a collective bargaining agreement with Mobil.
Spokesman
for the group, Godwin Idim, told a press conference in Eket that Mobil reneged
in its contractual agreement with the ex-workers and that all efforts to make
the company to honour its side of the bargain proved abortive.
He said some
of their members have died in the cause of the struggle to get Mobil to the
negotiation table in order to remit the outstanding financial claims.
Idim warned
that failure to pay them will have consequences
on the company and the
Niger-Delta region in general considering the emerging security challenges in
the region in recent times.
He called on
the State Governor Udom Emmanuel to intervene in the matter and save the
situation before it takes another dimension.
Meanwhile,
counsel to the disengaged workers, Jacob B. Udobang had written to Mobil,
reminding them of the need to settle the workers since the agreement it signed
with NUPENG and service contract staff regarding their end of service in July
2010 still subsists.
Efforts to
speak with the management of Mobil was not successful, but a senior staff of
the company who preferred anonymity said the ex workers' claims are not true.
Our
correspondent also obtained a letter written by Mobil on the matter. In the
letter dated February 25, 2013 and signed by Mr. Justin Ezeala, Mobil said it
had no obligation whether directly or indirectly for payment of terminal
benefits and entitlements to the disengaged workers.
“We are not
aware of any Labour Contract Collective Bargaining Agreement dated July 1, 2010
or any other date, signed between MPN and representatives of your client. We
are not also aware of any meeting on January 21, 2008 or any other date wherein
MPN management agreed with representatives of your client on the terms of the
said CBA,” the letter read.
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