The leadership of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has given a 7-day ultimatum to shipping owners over their anti-workers activities.
Its president, Comrade (Prince) Adewale Adeyanju, who made this known, cited the stylish refusal by employers in the maritime industry to honour the collective agreement reached by both parties as reason for the planned strike.
According to him, the planned strike from Monday October 30 2023 “Is coming on the heels of the failure of the Shipping Employers representative towards the negotiation of the minimum standard condition of service (NJIC) for the shipping sector.”
It would be recalled that the former Honourable Minister of Transportation’s intervention necessitated the suspension of the indefinite strike action billed for Monday, 5th of June, 2023.
The minister also commissioned a technical committee composed of the Union and Shipping Employers to harmonise the Union’s demands after the three meetings held could not resolve the protracted Minimum Standard Condition of Service (NJIC) issue with the Union.
“It’s worthy to note also that when truce was almost in sight, the representatives of the Shipping Employers at the negotiation table began to develop lackadaisical attitude towards the entire exercise, which gave them away as lacking the mandate to take decisions; their cold feet on the matter subsequently led to the collapse of the negotiation.
“Following from the above, we as a Union have reiterated that the Shipping Branch of the Union will commence the suspended indefinite action throughout the Nation’s port formations after the expiration of the renewed seven-day ultimatum issued,” he said.
The other three branches of the Union, namely: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dockworkers, and the Seafarers will in solidarity join their colleagues in the strike action.
