Dutch oil giant Shell has asked a Nigerian court to block oil workers from joining a nationwide labor strike set to begin November 16.
A judge in Lagos Monday declined to rule on the case immediately and scheduled a second hearing two days after the launch of the strike.
Sunday, the country's main labor union, the Nigeria Labor Congress, said the next work stoppage will be "indefinite" and will aim to disrupt the country's oil exports. The union's president, Adams Oshiomole, also called Shell an "enemy" of the Nigerian people.
Last month, the union held a four-day strike, which did not include oil workers.
Nigerian unions have criticized rising fuel prices in the country, Africa's leading oil producer. The government says price hikes are needed to end costly subsidies.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.