GPOC employees back on strike over unfulfilled promises

June 14, 2020 News, Newsbeat, South Sudan

GPOC employees as they protested at Unity oilfields in January 2020 (Photo credit: Nyamilepedia)

June 15, 2020 (SSNN) – The national employees of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) are back on strike after the management of the oil consortium failed to fulfill promises made earlier this year for better working, health and financial conditions, a employee who is also on the strike to South Sudan News Now this morning told from Bentiu.

In January this, the GPOC employees went on strike over similar demands but called off the strike three days after the management promised to address almost all the grievances raised by the employees during the first quarter of the 2020.

At the time, the demands include the pay raise, other working benefits and health insurance. A spokesman for the employee said at the time that the “GPOC management have accepted and promised to put into effect all the demands raised by the employees and only two of the issues raised will be addressed at a later date with the involvement of the ministry of petroleum.”

However, speaking to South Sudan News Now this morning, Philip Mamun Chap, a media representative of the striking employees said most of the promises had been realized and said they were forced into the strike which he said won’t affect the production and oil flow.

Mamun said the oil consortium has failed to honor its promises to the national employees for better working conditions and pay raise.

“The GPOC field national Employees under the workers trade union of Petroleum and Mining would like to inform both national and international media houses that GPOC national field Employees have already started three days peaceful [and] partial strike this mornings Monday 15 June 2020 at 5:00 am at Unity oilfield, Tomma South,Elnar, and Eltoor,” Mamun said.

He said the strike will “not affect the production and flow of the oil but will affect some activities” that will eventually after – partially – the daily production. He further urged the government to intervene and put pressure on the oil giant to refrain from what he said were ‘unfair’ practices.

“The staffs are calling for many demands from GPOC management as mentioned …… and the strike is also a wakeup call for the government to intervene and pressure the GPOC management to refrain from unfair policy practice and mistreatment and discrimination of national employees within their county,” Mamun further said.