The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has threatened to shut down ports and terminals, as well as oil and gas platforms nationwide, over lingering unresolved issues with shipping companies in Nigeria.
President-General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, who disclosed this, yesterday, during a media briefing, said that owing to the unwillingness of employers to negotiate minimum standards and condition of service for its members in the shipping sector, it was left with no option but to withdraw services of all members nationwide with effect from Monday, June 5, 2023.
He lamented the non-chalant attitude of shipping firms’ management to discuss and negotiate welfare and condition of service of members in the shipping sector.
He said this was despite several interventions and meetings, which sought an amicable resolution of unresolved issues, culminating in the issuance of a seven-day ultimatum after the expiration of a previous 14-day ultimatum earlier issued.
The MWUN chief recalled that the former Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, in a bid to ensure a peaceful industrial climate in the shipping sector, had directed the management of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to superintend a collective bargaining meeting between the union and shipping companies in Nigeria.
Adeyanju lamented that despite several meetings called at the instance of the NSC, the shipping firms’ representatives deliberately forestalled the negotiation process, alleging lack of mandate from their respective principals, and insisting on maintaining the status quo.
He said consequent to the foregoing and obvious unwillingness of employers to negotiate minimum standards and conditions of service for its members in the shipping sector, MWUN was left with no option but to resuscitate the earlier seven days’ ultimatum issued in the shipping sector and withdrawing the services of all members nationwide indefinitely with effect from Monday, June 5, 2023.
