Chevron don’t meddle in issues between contractors and their employees—Brikinn
Leading oil and gas conglomerate, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), has reacted to the 21-day ultimatum given by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to furnish it with list of all the maritime companies providing marine services for Chevron for the purpose of unionising their employees.
In a terse response, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs at CNL, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn made it clear that “Chevron Nigeria Limited, operator of the joint venture between Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and CNL, encourages the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria to take any concern it may have directly to the employers of its members.
“CNL does not interfere in the internal affairs of contractor-companies and their employees.
“Our priority remains the safety of our entire workforce and security of our assets.”
Trouble had started when MWUN through its Secretary General, Mr Felix Akingboye, accused Chevron of deliberately shielding its employees from being unionised.
In the letter, MWUN averred that “We are disappointed to note that till date, you have refused to furnish the required document for unionisation thereby shielding your vendors’ employees from being unionised. We have waited long enough and our patience has been stretched to its limit.”
The martime workers letter to Chevron further recalled that “Reference is made to a tripartite meeting held on Thursday, November 24, 2016, between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and your management at the NIMASA Zonal office, Warri, Delta State, where your management was mandated to submit to NIMASA and the union, the comprehensive list of all maritime companies providing marine services for the purpose of the unionisation of their employees.”
