MWUN to shut down activities in shipping sector
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) will on Monday the 30th of October, 2023, resume its suspended strike in the shipping sector of the nation’s economy.
A statement by the Union on Wednesday, disclosed that the President General of the Union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, fnli, approved of the planned industrial action.
It explained that the action was necessitated by failure on the part of the shipping sector to comply with earlier reached agreement with regards to improved welfare of the workers in the sector.
“This directive is coming on the heels of the failure of the Shipping Employers representative towards the negotiation of the minimum standard condition of service (NJIC) for the shipping sector.
“It would be recalled that the former Honourable Minister of Transportation’s intervention necessitated the suspension of the indefinite strike action billed for Monday, 5th of June, 2023.
“The Minister also commissioned a constituted technical committee comprising of the Union and Shipping Employers to harmonize the Union’s demands after the three meetings held could not resolve the protracted Minimum Standard Condition of Service (NJIC) issue with the Union.
“It’s worthy to note also that when truce was almost in sight, the representatives of the Shipping Employers at the negotiation table began to develop lackadaisical attitude towards the entire exercise, which gave them away as lacking the mandate to take decisions; their cold feet on the matter subsequently led to the collapse of the negotiation.
“Flowing from the above, we as a Union have reiterated that the Shipping Branch of the Union will commence the suspended indefinite action throughout the Nation’s port formations after the expiration of the renewed seven-day ultimatum issued,” the statement reads in part.
The statement added that the other three branches of the Union, which include the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dockworkers, and the Seafarers, would in solidarity join their colleagues in the strike action.
