Maritime workers to shut down port operations nationwide Monday

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has said that it will from Monday, June 5 shut down port operations nationwide over refusal of shipping companies to negotiate minimum standard and condition of service of their employees.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju said the union had been battling with the shipping companies since 2018 to reach an amicable resolution on the minimum standard for shipping workers to no avail.

He lamented that despite several ultimatums and interventions by the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, the shipping companies had refused to negotiate a minimum standard with the union insisting on maintaining the status quo.

Adeyanju, who also doubles as the Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress said in solidarity with the shipping companies’ workers the union will bring its other branches including dockworkers, seamen and NPA to declare total industrial unrest in the ports nationwide.

He expressed sadness that workers in the shipping companies are not well remunerated, describing their retirement as a death sentence.

He said “MWUN wishes to bring to the attention of the general public its bewilderment at the care-free attitude of Shipping companies management to discuss and negotiate the welfare and conditions of service of our members in the Shipping sector/Industry This is in spite of several interventions and meetings which sought an amicable resolution of the unresolved welfare issues of our members in the Shipping sector culminating in the issuance of the 7-day ultimatum after the expiration of the previous 14 days ultimatum issued.

“Related to the above, the immediate past Minister of transportation, Muazu Sambo, in a bid to ensure a peaceful industrial climate in the Shipping Sector directed the management of Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, to superintend a collective Bargaining meeting between MWUN and all Shipping companies in Nigeria towards arriving at a minimum standard or a template for the industry. Unfortunately, despite several meetings called at the instance of the NSC in its premises, the shipping companies’ representatives deliberately forestalled the negotiation process citing a lack of mandate from their respective principals insisting on maintaining status-quo.

“Consequent to the foregoing and the obvious unwillingness of the shipping employers to negotiate minimum standard and condition of service for our members in the Shipping Sector/industry, MWUN is left with no option than to resuscitate the earlier 7-day ultimatum issued the shipping employers in the sector. In line with that, we therefore direct our members to withdraw their services including our members in the Dock, Seafarers, and NPA from all Ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms nationwide with effect from Monday, 5th June 2023, and begin a total strike until further notice.”

President of the Shipping Branch of MWUN, Comrade Ekpenyong Etim Ekpenyong also corroborated Adeyanyu, saying working conditions of workers in the shipping sector is nothing to write home about but the shipping companies are unwilling to review their remuneration.

“The take home of workers is nothing to write home about. The workers are not faring well. The rate the shipping companies are using has been there for about 20 years so there is a need to improve the rates but unfortunately, they are not complying,” he said.