IPNEWS: The Management of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) and the United Workers Union of Liberia (UWUL) have signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the workers of LPRC, a historic milestone for workers in the downstream Petroleum Sector in Liberia.

The signing ceremony took place on May 25, 2021 at the Product Storage Terminal (PST) on the Bushrod Island Monrovia Liberia. The current CBA is a result of an extensive negotiation process which begun January 2021 between the parties regarding topics such as Conditions and terms of employment, grievance procedure, wages and hours of work.

Speaking on behalf of the LPRC’s management, Mrs. Marie Urey Coleman, Managing Director lauded the negotiating parties for establishing the foundation for the first ever Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Company and the workers. She assured the Union Representatives that management negotiated the CBA in good faith and will also implement it in good faith.

Speaking earlier, the Secretary General of UWUL Mr. Daniel Weah appreciated the efforts of the Management of LPRC through Mr. Stanley Ford for the high level of cooperation exhibited during the negotiation process and expressed optimism that all parties will abide and honor the CBA.

For his part, the Director for Trade Unions Affairs & Social Dialogue at the Ministry of Labor, Mr. Boakai Sirleaf who witnessed the agreement said the Government of Liberia as a protector of public interest, is keen on maintaining industrial peace, increase productivity and non discriminatory employment patterns and as such, supports all voluntarily and rational negotiation as demonstrated by the LPRC management and the representatives of the Workers, UWUL. He called on both the management of LPRC and the workers Representatives to adhere to the dictates of the Decent Work Bill and the CBA.

The signed Collective Bargaining Agreement is the first ever in the history of the company and the workers Union. The signing ceremony was graced by several shop stewards, local union officials and a cross section of the employees of LPRC.