UNPAID WAGES: Ports may shut down, as Maritime workers set to commence strike

Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Thursday directed its members across the country to commence industrial action and shut down ports operation from Wednesday due to unpaid wages to dockworkers, among other issues.

The leadership of the association in a letter to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation on Thursday maintained that the industrial action will not be halted once it commenced unless their demands are met by the government.

Recall  that MWUN had on June 11, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to compel the International Oil Companies, IOCs, to pay over a year’s outstanding wages to dockworkers, among other issues, or face nationwide industrial unrest.

The leaders of the union had last week set up a strike coordinating committee and directed its officials in all port formations nationwide to begin a massive mobilization of members ahead of the planned strike.

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In the letter to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation, dated June 27, 2019, and signed by its Secretary General, Felix Akingboye, MWUN reiterated it readiness to commence the strike.

The letter reads “Consequently, the leadership of the union has directed that members of the union shall withdraw services throughout the nation’s seaports effective 0.600 hours (6am) Wednesday, July 3rd 2019.”

The Union’s letter was copied among others to the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, President, National Associations of Stevedoring Companies, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, NPA, terminal operators and shipping companies.

MWUN in a statement by its President-General and Secretary General, Prince Adewale Adeyanju and Felix Akingboye, said it could no longer watch while members die prematurely and suffer humiliation of not being able to meet basic necessities such as house rent, school fees, medical bills among others.

The statement read in part “we want to use this medium to intimate you and the Federal Government of the non-payment of the stevedoring wages to dockworkers by the International Oil Companies, IOCs, operating in Nigeria.

“It is on record that on June 1, 2018, the NPA appointment stevedoring contractors to provide stevedoring contractors to provide stevedoring services at various off-shore jetties and on-shore locations to the International Oil Services and other operators.

“It will be necessary to inform you that NPA had held several meetings with these operators to grant access to the government appointed stevedoring contractors, process their invoices and effect payment, unfortunately, the operators have refused to comply with the NPA directive after one year that the stevedoring contractors were appointed”.

 

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