Following the alleged hesitance of the management of shipping companies to discuss and negotiate the welfare and working conditions of the workers in the maritime sector has resulted in their strike action beginning on Monday 5th June 2023.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) said its members have decided to halt port operations because the management of shipping companies was unable to come up with a long-term solution to unsolved welfare issues after numerous interventions and discussions.
Interacting with newsmen at Apapa, Lagos, the President General of the union, Adewale Adeyanju, claimed that after the initial 14-day ultimatum expired, a subsequent 7-day ultimatum was issued as a result of the management of shipcompaniesnies' conduct.
Adeyanju disclosed that the Union had in the past threatened to cripple the operations of the shipping companies over the alleged anti-labour practices including poor salaries, retirement benefits, and poor working conditions for its members nationwide.
He said: “Maritime WorkitsUnion of Nigeria (MWUN) wish to bring to the attention of the general public its bewilderment at the non-challenge altitude of shipping companies management to discuss and negotiate the welfare and conditions of service of our mnon-challengee shipping industry.
“This is despite several interventions and meetings which sought an amicable resolution of the unresolved welfare issues of our shipping sector culminating in the issuance of a further 7-day ultimatum after the expiration of the previous 14-day ultimatum issued.”
“Related to the above, the Hon Minister of Transportation in a bid to ensure peaceful industrial14-date in the shipping sector had directed the management of Nigerian Shippers Council to spearhead a coa collective bargaining meeting between MWUN and all shipping companies in Nigeria.
“Unfortunately, despite several meetings called at the instance of the Shippers’ council I’m their premises, the shipping companies' representatives deliberately forestalled the negotiations process s citing lack of mandate from their respective princompanies'isting on maintaining status-quo.
“Consequently to the foregoing and the obvious unwillingness of the shipping principals to negotiate minimum standard and condition of service for our members in the shipping sector, MWUN is left with no option than to resuscitate the earlier-7 day ultimatum issues the shipping employers in the sector; and therefore withdraw the services of our members inclusive of our members in the Dock, Seafarers and NPA from all Potts, jetties, terminals and oil and gas platforms nationwide with effects from Monday 5th June 2023.”
