A planned strike by national staff of Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) in Juba has been postponed for four weeks as negotiations continue.
Last week, about 250 workers of the oil firm announced that they plan to lay down their tool on Tuesday to protest their conditions of service and unpaid arrears.
However after a meeting with management of the oil company this morning, the employees have decided to push the intended action forward to 9 April, as they continue to engage the management of GPOC.
Dut Baak Wol, head of the oil and mining workers' union, told Radio Tamazuj that the extension is a sign of good faith in the negotiations.
However, he said they still plan to embark on it if their demands are not met within the time frame given.
“We have agreed to extend the planned strike until 9 April. If there is no any positive response, the employees will take a decision,” Dut said.
“We will hold two meetings on 14 and 29 of March with the management. If they don’t agree, we will announce the trike on 9 April, “he added.
“The ministry of petroleum has also intervened and is requesting the parties to allow negotiations to continue.”
GPOC, the operator of the unity oilfields in South Sudan, is owned by China’s National Petroleum Corporation, Malaysia’s Petronas and India’s ONGC Videsh.