GPOC employees threaten to down tools within 72 hours over outstanding arrears

 

JUBA – South Sudanese employees of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), a consortium of oil companies in the country’s petroleum sector, have threatened to go on strike for a duration of two days beginning Thursday if the ministry of petroleum and the GPOC management fail to answer their demands within a period of 72 hours.

In a statement to Sudans Post on Monday, Gabriel Matut Maliah, a spokesman and secretary of employees’ affairs for workers trade union of GPOC employees said the strike will continue indefinitely if the government and the GPOC management fail to answer their demands within in a given time.

“The Workers Trade Union for Petroleum & Mining GPOC Sub-office would therefore  like to notify GPOC & MOP that if the aforementioned demands of the National Employees are not resolved within the 72 Hours’ time of notification from 15 February 2021 – 17 February 2021, then the  planned industrial action will take place from Thursday, 18 February 2021 – Saturday, 20 February 2021 and will be lifted for one day – Sunday, 21 February 2021,” the statement reads in part, adding “And this will continue until our voice is heard.”

“All GPOC National Employees both in the field and the office will go for strike as outlined above and should there be a positive development before 18th February 2021 from GPOC Management on the payment of all the outstanding bonuses/arrears and the agreed allowances (shift, commuting, disturbance and scarcity skills allowances), the Workers Trade Union GPOC Sub-office will communicate it via email and other official channels of communication from its spokesperson.”