The Shipping Lines Association of Nigeria (SAN) has faulted the proposed strike announced by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) from Oct. 30.
The Chairman of the association, Mrs Boma Alabi (SAN), said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.
Recall that, the MWUN on Wednesday announced plans to resume suspended strike in the shipping sector on Oct. 30.
The President-General, Mr Adewale Adeyanju, made this known in a statement signed by Mr John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media, MWUN.
Adeyanju said the directive was coming on heels of the failure of shipping employers’ representative toward the negotiation of the minimum standard condition of service (NJIC) for the shipping sector.
It would be recalled that the former Minister of Transportation’s intervention necessitated the suspension of the indefinite strike billed for June 5.
Alabi, however, said the timing for the strike was not good considering the economic challenges in the country.
She explained that a strike in the ports at this delicate time would be a strike against every single business, worker and consumer in Nigeria, not simply against shipping companies.
Alabi said many of their members are significant investors in the port and logistics sector in Nigeria, creating thousands of jobs and helping to enhance and improve competitiveness and investment opportunities for businesses in the country.
“Members of SAN note with concern the announcement by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria of their intention to commence strike action by Oct. 30.
“At a time where Nigeria needs investment to create growth and opportunities for employment, we consider a call to shut down the nation’s ports to be wholly inappropriate.
“The welfare of employees is a matter of utmost importance to members and we remain open for constructive dialogue through the existing technical committee of employers and the MWUN which is chaired by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC),” she said.
“While we have repeatedly reminded the MWUN that SAN members do not encompass the totality of employers in the maritime sector, we have been engaging with the MWUN on certain improvements to terms and conditions for employees.
“Several enhancements have already been tabled, and as far as we are concerned dialogue is ongoing, the most recent meeting was on Sept. 29,” she said.
Alabi said a total of 15 meetings had been held with the NSC from April to September, to settle the issue, noting that the next meeting would be on Oct. 30.
“This belies the unfounded accusation of a ‘lackadaisical’ attitude on our part,” she said.
Alabi noted that many companies had provided additional palliatives to staff to cushion the effects of subsidy removal and other inflationary pressures affecting all Nigerians.
She also alleged that the MWUN was seeking to impose minimum standards of employment on its members.
Alabi said the association considered the existing terms and conditions for SAN member companies employees to be significantly above the so called minimum standards of the MWUN.
She added that unfortunately, SAN member companies were repeatedly singled out in the media and public statements by MWUN as not meeting up to standard, but yet they remain open to discussions on sustainable proposals.
