The National Organization of Petroleum Employees (Onep) has filed two strike notices with the companies Assala Gabon and Addax Petroleum. Two other major oil production companies and Sogara, the only oil refinery in Gabon, are also targeted by strike notices. Why such a surge of fever in this vital sector on which the Gabonese economy depends?
1 min
With our correspondent in Libreville, Yves-Laurent Goma
The strike notices filed at Addax Petroleum and Assala Gabon expire on Monday, December 4. If negotiations do not open before this date, work will cease in a week at 6:59 a.m. warns Sylvain Mayabith, secretary general of the National Organization of Petroleum Employees (Onep).
“ In these two companies, Assala is selling its assets to Maurel & Prom and the workers are demanding a good separation bonus. At Sinopec Addax Petroleum, there is an end of contract and the workers would like to know their future. They are therefore requesting the payment of a separation bonus as part of a social plan in the event that Sinocep’s activities stop in 2024. »
Perenco, Maurel & Prom as well as Sogara, the national oil refinery are also under threat of a strike. “ There is a breakdown in social dialogue between Onep and these employers. We have no other choice than to consider a strike, because this is the salty language that these operators know how to interpret. »
No oil company has publicly reacted to ONEP’s denunciations. Last week, the union requested urgent intervention from the Minister of Oil and his Labor colleague to defuse the crisis.