President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Tony Nted Emmanuel has cautioned port operators and chief executives of agencies in the maritime sector not to get carried away by the current peaceful disposition of members of the union, saying that members of the union would confront any employer who undermines the union’s interests.
According to him, in the last few months the union has discovered that chief executives of government agencies have been treating issues concerning members of the union withy levity.
His warning comes on the heels of last week’s warning by dock workers that they would ground activities at the nation’s seaports in another one week if the management of Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) does not settle the one year unpaid wages for security and tally clerks in the ports.
The dockworkers had protested at their secretariat last week over the alleged non payment of their entitlement, even as they stated that the managing director of NPA, Malam Abdusallam Mohammed should be held responsible for whatever happens.
A leader of the dockworkers, Abayomi Ogedengbe who opened up on the development stated that last week’s protest was the last peaceful one that the workers would embark upon. “This will be the last time workers will protest over this issue. Our next step is a total shut down of port operations”, he said, even as he added that about 80 per cent of dock workers have been paid, but lamented that tally clerks and security men were yet to be paid.
Buttressing the stand of the dockworkers, Comrade Nted told Shipping Position Weekly that the relative peace in the port is because the new leadership of the union have embarked on counselling and prayers for the members especially the dockworkers.
Our correspondent confirmed that the workers unsatisfied that the managing director of NPA has failed to honour the recommendations of a committee which was set up to look into the grievances of the security and tally clerk who are also members of the union.
The committee which is headed by a general manager in the organisation, Alhaji Monsur Ajala and which also had members from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency reportedly recommended that the money should be paid.
(Please read details of interview with Comrade Tony Nted Emmanuel on pages 6 and 7)
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