…inaugurates district, unit executives
The President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has warned the management of Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT) that intimidation of workers and introduction of any policies that tend to inflict hardship on workers at the terminal would not be acceptable.
Adeyanju gave the warning during the inauguration of executives of district and unit officers at the Lekki Free port terminal on Tuesday.
The union leader noted that even though the operators of the Lekki deep seaport are opposed to unionization of workers at the port, workers must be unionized to protect their rights.
Speaking, he said, “We have been hearing news that somebody somewhere is trying to introduce sentiment here.
“We are not going to accept workers’ intimidation or the introduction of anti-workers policy that will not be favorable to the workers. You cannot just come and turn the workers into slaves in their father’s land. The union will not accept that in this terminal.
“I don’t owe anybody an apology for that. My primary objective is to protect the welfare of workers because that is why you elected me to serve you. We are here to establish a standard we have had over the years. The name of the union is an international name and there is no way somebody somewhere will change the name overnight. So, the union has come to stay.”
Adeyanju assured that the union will give needed support to the management of the Lekki deep seaport given the huge investment made in the port but noted that workers interest must be protected.
He tasked the newly elected union executives at the terminal to see their positions as call to duty adding that their interest should be on protecting the welfare of workers.
“Certificate of occupancy will be given to you as the workers representative today. While giving you that certificate, you should remember that your interest is for the welfare of your members including that of the management because without the management there’s no way you will be an officer of the union.
“The era of banging tables against your management or superior officer is no longer there. You have been given an opportunity to represent the workforce in this terminal, don’t see yourself as a god. See yourself as being called to duty, to serve and represent both the management and the workforce.
“Do not introduce tribalism among the workers but work together as one big family,” he advised the executives.
Adeyanju also urged the workers to carry out their work diligently just as he warned them against stealing and pilfering of containers at the port.
“We all know the history of what has been happening in the ports in Apapa and Tin Can where pilfering, stealing and flying of containers is always the order of the day at some terminals. Do not allow yourself to be used by drug peddlers.
“You should not introduce that form of illegality in this new port because the union will not support that,” he said.
Adeyanju said the union would soon meet with the management of the terminal to begin negotiation of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the workers.
The union leader also thanked the host community for accommodating the investors assuring that the union will continue to partner with them.
Also speaking, Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies, Marine branch, Comrade Akin Bodunde, said the union was not at the terminal to antagonise the management, but to partner with them for the development of the organisation and workers’ welfare.
On his part, President, Dockworkers branch of MWUN, Tajudeen Ohize, urged members of the union to cooperate with the management of the port and avoid any act that would tarnish the image of the union.
He said, “All of you should believe you are running management unionism. You must cooperate with the management. The development of this company should be paramount in our minds and do not spoil the name of the union you represent. “The management cannot short-change you; we will not accept that.
“The union will not support bad things, don’t think that because you are a union member when you do something bad, the union will support you. Don’t try it.
“I also want to appreciate the senior staff and community leaders. Please let us work together for the development of the company. We are here because we have the company and that is why we have to work together.”
