Protesting Support Staff Disrupt Operations at Warri Refinery

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Hundreds of support workers of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) in Delta State have disrupted operations at the facility over alleged continued failure of the management to improve the remuneration and other associated welfare.

The protesters had since Monday, blocked the entrance of the facility, chanting solidarity songs with various placards on display.

The workers had warned about a fortnight ago that there would be a total shutdown of activities at the company, if the management failed to attend to their demands.

Protesting against what they described as “workplace slavery,” they bore placards with inscriptions such as “Our salary can no longer take us home,” WRPC paying our cleaners salary of N34,500 is wicked and evil,” Give us good condition of service, we played major role in the Quick-Fix,” WRPC management are wicked,” Enough of promise and fail” among others.

Lead Representative of the Support Staff, Safe Ighomitedo, told reporters yesterday that they were protesting “work slavery” at the facility following failure of the management to heed to their appeals.

“We are here protesting workplace slavery. This struggle has been on since 2015. We have undergone series of protests, all to no avail. At every point in time, we always have listening ears based on the promises of the management.

“Unfortunately, management will always come with one scheme or the other. All we are asking for is a condition of service.

“It is sad to note that the highest paid support staff in WRPC receive N164,000, while the least receive N90,000. Our cleaners receive N34,000,” he lamented.

According to him, the protesters refused an appeal by the Acting Managing Director and his team to shelve the protest.

“They wanted more time, and we resolved that we would remain at the gate, pending when they are through with what they are doing. We will be here waiting to hear from them.

“As we speak right now, nobody is going in, all contractors are not allowed to go in until we get what we want. And we are willing to stay here till next week, until management attends to us.”

Ighomitedo also disclosed that there was no official communication from top management in Abuja, however, “reports have it that they were aware of the development and consultations were ongoing between local and the top management.”

One of the protesting workers said “The shutdown of WRPC is over failure of NNPC and WRPC management to provide improved condition of service.”