The dockworkers branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has set up a 15-member committee to look into complaints from its unit and district heads about handling of vehicles at the Roll on Roll off (RORO) terminals at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
The committee is expected to look at the various issues and make recommendations to the union for the attention of the concessionaires.
The dockworkers branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has set up a 15-member committee to look into complaints from its unit and district heads about handling of vehicles at the Roll on Roll off (RORO) terminals at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
The committee is expected to look at the various issues and make recommendations to the union for the attention of the concessionaires.
Auto Port Weekly gathered last week that some of the complaints are: disparity in payment of RORO vessels, lack of sufficient security men on board RORO vessels, difference between holiday rate and night operations and weekend operations.
The committee which is headed by a top member of the union; Comrade Francis Isaac was given five days to receive complaints from units and districts, to examine and deliberate over all issues raised and make recommendation to the union.
A document sighted by our correspondent last week revealed that the committee has already recoeved a barrage of complaints from the terminals like Five Star Logistics and Ports and Terminals Multiservices(PTML) both at Tin Can Island Port.
The findings revealed that ‘men on standby’ for the arrival of vessel should be paid extra service rate and agreed manning level should be strictly observed, in which a total of eight workers will be on one shift.
The document tagged, “Report of the committee set up by dockworkers branch to look into complaints arising from dock labour industry” also noted that there should be an in house discussion between the district and terminal operators pertaining to RORO vessels with hazardous operations.
The committee also recommended that district should be mandated to discuss with the RORO terminal operators pertaining to smoking vehicles and trucks from RORO vessels in the area of hazardous handling.
"The committee recommend that all RORO vessels should have a uniform payment rate of N365 per car unit, while truck unit should be N600 subject to increase."
They also affirmed that PTML have been operating without the services of the pool tally clerk and on- board security men since inception.
It also noted that: "Initially seven security men are booked per shift on board vessel, but it is now two men."
"This committee recommends that the status quo of seven men on board vessel per shift should be maintained for effective policing of vessels", it submitted.
The dockworkers also called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to look into the complaints in order to avoid any form of confrontation.
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