Unions Threaten Seaports Shutdown Over Casual Workers, Low Wages

Except there is intervention by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Marítime Workers Union Of Nigeria (MWUN) will shut down seaports, jetties and oil and gas platforms across the country over Hull Blyth Shipping Company’s Casualisation of workers and refusal to comply with the newly established N200,000 minimum wage for workers.

LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that a new CBA for shipping workers was recently signed by both the union and the shipping companies, supervised by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

The new CBA approved N200,000 as minimum wage for shipping workers across the country.
But, speaking at a joint press conference in Lagos, on Thursday, MWUN President General, Com. Adewale Adeyanju, together with the President, Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Com. Bodumde Akinola, expressed disappointment in Hull Blyth Shipping Company’s outright refusal to honour the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

They, however, described the company as notorious for its entrenched casualisation practices, reliance on outsourced labour, and consistent repatriation of profits overseas.

“It is with a sense of disappointment that we bring to the attention of the general public, the unfortunate denouncement of this landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by Hull Blyth Shipping Company’s and its blatant refusal to abide by its provisions.

“We must state here that Hull Blyth is known for its 100 per cent entrenched casualisation of its workforce. This company solely depends on outsourcing of all its operational processes. It is also known for repatriation of the company’s huge profits back to their home country.

“We, therefore, wish to use this medium to sound a note of warning to Hull Blyth management that the union will resist this action, with all it would take, including closing down all ports, terminals, jetties and oil and gas platforms nationwide should this blatant disregard for the CBA agreement persist,” Adeyanju stated.

The union leader also urged the federal government to renew the concession agreements of terminal operators.

The unions expressed concerns that the delays in renewing these agreements are creating job insecurity among workers.

MWUN stressed that the terminal operators provide employment across the dock, shipping, and seafaring sectors, so any impact on them directly affects the welfare of union members and raises the risk of unemployment.

On his part, the president of SSASCGOC Maritime, Comrade Akinola raised the alarm over unmanned jetties across the country, and the attendant revenue losses.

“We wish to affirm that Jetties play a very important role as landing and storage points for goods and services. Suffice it to stress that the jetties also dot all nooks and crannies of our littoral charts.

“The absence of these categories of personnel has made the jetties to become a veritable ground for the perpetration of criminal activities and a haven for economic sabotage. This has also led to an unchecked influx of banned commodities into the country and a means of loss of huge revenue to the nation.

“Consequently, we advocate for the urgent employment of workers across all maritime agencies such as: NPA, NIWA, NIMASA, and the Nigeria Shippers’ Council to man these areas for efficiency, improved security and resource accumulation. Again, these employments will serve to enhance safety, oversight, and provide more job opportunities for Nigerian youths within the sector,” Bodunde stated

The NPA Senior Staff President also expressed disappointment that the recent minimum wage that was approved by the Federal Government and the consequential adjustments have not yet been implemented by some government agencies and parastatals in the maritime sector.

“Our members, like all Nigerian workers, deserve timely adjustments to their wages that reflect current economic realities.

“We call for immediate compliance by all relevant bodies in the maritime sector,” he said.