By MAUREEN DICK
PRESIDENT of National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Harold Bestowe, has said members of his Union are not partaking in the ongoing industrial strike at the Daewoo Nigeria Limited Indorama Fertilizer operation in Eleme local government Area of Rivers State, embarked upon by National Union of Civil Engineering, Construction and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW).
Bestowe made this clarification while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday, saying that the national leadership of the union has not approved such action for its members.
He further explained that the decision not to participate in the industrial strike by the union was as a result of the ongoing legal battle pending at the National industrial Court Abuja, between the union, Daewoo Nigeria Limited and other eight companies handling Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) projects in Bonny Local Government Area of the state.
The president disclosed that about 70 percent of the workforce in the Daewoo site in Indorama Eleme fertilizer project belong to their Union and urged management of the Indorama company to take notice of this directives and take proactive measures that would guarantee the security of their members working in their site.
He used the opportunity to call on NAPO members to go about their normal duties and exercise every necessary safety precautions, while calling on the management of Daewoo to ensure that adequate security measures are put in place to safeguard the safety and protection of workers who are not taking part in the strike.
Bestowe urged the workers to remain vigilant and hopeful in their struggle and added that the leadership of the union is working hard to ensure improved welfare and good working condition for members of the union in their working places.
“This is to inform the management of Daewoo Nig Ltd Indorama Fertilizer operation in Eleme Local Government Area of the state that members of NAPO are not part of the ongoing industrial strike called by NUCECFWW.
“To this end, the national secretariat of our great union has directed that all our members should go back to their normal duties at the site without encumbrance.
“We also call on the management to provide adequate security for all our members working in the site, so as to guarantee their safety and security.”