The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has threatened industrial action against shipping lines operating in Nigeria over what the union described as poor condition of service.
Already, the union had issued a 21-day ultimatum to all shipping lines under the aegis of Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) to call a meeting on the review of the condition of service of their employees or risk industrial unrests.
The ultimatum was conveyed in a letter signed by the General Secretary of MWUN; Comrade Felix Akingboye, which was obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday and which was copied to both Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authourity and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
The letter, which was dated 26th February, 2020, and which was addressed to the Chairman Shipping Association of Nigeria, and was also copied the President of Nigerian Labour Congress.
In the letter, the union accused the shipping lines of neglecting an earlier request for a meeting between it and the shipping lines, as contained in a letter written earlier to the association soliciting for a meeting between to review the terminal charges.
The MWUN scribe added that the attitude from SAN does not encourage cordial industrial relationship.
The letter read: "In our letter under reference, proposal was made for a meeting of your Association and the Union to hold between 10th-14th June, 2019 with a view to reviewing the overdue terminal benefits currently being paid to workers but up till now, you have not found it necessary to dignify us with a response”.
The union maintained that the attitude of the shipping lines is an indication of the level of contempt in which they hold the union and the little regard they have for workers’ welfare.
“This is not an attitude that encourages cordial industrial relationship. It is rather an indication of the level of contempt at which you hold the union and the little regard you have for workers’ welfare”, it said and added that the current benefits with workers of the shipping lines enjoy came into force in 2008.
"Since you have decided to treat our request with levity I have been directed to issue your association 21 days’ notice effective from February 26 2020, within which you are expected to convey a meeting with the union for the benefits reviewing upwards the terminal payable to workers at their point of exit", the MWUN scribe wrote in the letter.
The union also urged the shipping lines to evacuate all their empty containers that are indiscriminately parked which are causing gridlock on the access roads to ports.
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