MWUN renews ultimatum to shipping companies over poor remuneration

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has renewed its earlier ultimatum to shipping companies over poor remuneration and terminal benefits of its members.

Recall that the union in a letter dated February 2, 2020 and addressed to the Chairman, Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) issued a 21-day ultimatum to shipping companies requesting for a meeting to negotiate for an upward review of the terminal benefits currently being paid to workers.

But two years after, the union said the shipping companies are yet to respond to their demands.

Speaking at a maiden seminar and award presentation organized by the Shipping Branch women’s wing of the union in Lagos on Thursday, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, flayed employers who are hiding under the pretext of COVID-19 to review upward the salaries of workers.

He warned that the union will no longer accept poor remuneration of its workers by shipping companies and would consider taking necessary action if it persisted.

According to him, any Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that is between 5 to 20 percent often offered by the shipping companies whenever there are negotiations with the union will no longer be accepted.

“I want to use this medium to reemphasize the need for the welfare of the shipping workers. This is an opportunity to renew our ultimatum for condition of service because our members remuneration is not well encouraged.

“Several ultimatums have been given to them (shipping companies) but they refuse to honour them. They believe impunity is the order of the day in shipping where somebody will be on one payroll for 10 to 15 years and no promotions. That is why the union is using this medium to renew our ultimatum.

“When somebody will put in almost 30 to 40 years as a worker in shipping but his take home after retirement is nothing to write home about. This is unacceptable. The rights of the shipping workers should be given to them.

“The excuse they were giving is COVID- 19 but now there is no COVID. They should not be riding on the back of COVID-19 to deny the legitimate right of shipping workers. So, we have renewed the ultimatum given to SAN to reconvene this meeting between the MWUN shipping branch so that the condition of service will be renegotiated.

“Our lives must not be mortgaged by some employers of labour who have no regard for Nigerian workers in shipping who have contributed immensely to the economy. We are also not going to sign any Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that is between 5 to 20 percent,” he said.

Adeyanju commended the women workers of the shipping branch of the union for organizing the seminar to celebrate and recognize employers who have distinguished themselves and contributed to the growth of the union.

He commended the immediate Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala Usman, Chairman, Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) Princess Vicky Hasstrup and Chairperson, Nigerian Shipowners Forum, Mrs. Margret Orakwusi, among other maritime women who have inspired women and contributed to the development of the sector.

Adeyanju expressed delight that women now undertake certain jobs which were hitherto men’s domain with companies like TICT, BOLLORE, APMT, ENL, MAERSK, LTT and other terminals engaging women as RTG drivers, crane operators, captains and ship engineers.

“Women form an integral part of our labour movement in Maritime. They have grown ebullient, efficient and professional. Armed with the necessary skills and intellect to adapt to practically any situation. Biologically they are designed to be adaptative fitting into most roles they encounter.

“Maritime business has been a male dominated industry for a long time. However, this scenario has changed as we now have powerful, resourceful and great women leaders who managed and have grown respectable businesses in our sector. Thus, it comes as no surprise to find women occupying very high positions of authority,” he said.

The MWUN leader encouraged women in other branches of the union to take a cue from the celebration by the Shipping Branch to organize similar activities to celebrate themselves, MWUN leaders and the entire maritime industry.

In her welcome address, Women wing leader of the Shipping Branch, Comrade Rosemary Otikpere said the motive behind the event was to educate the newly inducted female union members on how to balance work, manage their homes effectively and take good care of their health.

“We also want to breach the gap between the female management staff and the female staff of our various companies, to let them know they are our role models and we look up to them and wish to move higher. To honour all the female Managing Directors (MDs) and Human Resources Managers (HRMs) in the industry breaching the barrier of gender inequality and to project the image of MWUN as a union with distinction,” she said.

Otikpere also solicits the support of the union to purchase a bus for easy movement of the shipping branch women to carry out some of its planned projects including visiting motherless homes and empowering the less privileged.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of awards of excellence to the Managing Director of Maersk Line, Mrs. Lara Lana; Managing Director of Bollore Logistics, Mrs. Sade Akanni-Shele; former HR Manager at Bollore, Mrs. Patience Daniel; HR Manager at CMA-CGM; Mrs. Benedicta Altalegbe among others.

Picture caption:

President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, presenting an Award of Excellence to the representative of Managing Director of Maersk Line, Mrs. Lara Lana during the seminar and award presentation organized by the Shipping Branch women’s wing of the union in Lagos on Thursday.