SAN cannot fault our decision for industrial action – MWUN
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has reacted to a statement by the Shipping Employers Association of Nigeria (SAN) faulting its decision to embark on industrial action in the shipping sub-sector of the maritime industry.
In a statement on Monday, the Head of Media at the MWUN, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, explained the circumstances justifying the Union’s call for the strike.
“The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) under the leadership of its President – General, Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju, fnli HFCPSP, cannot be faulted as was reported in the press statement issued by Mrs Boma Alabi (SAN), Chairman of Shipping Employers Association of Nigeria (SAN) over the seven-day ultimatum the revered Union issued to the Association in the maritime sector last week.
“The said seven-day ultimatum was given after the expiration of the initial 14-day ultimatum that was given to the Federal Government on the same issue of minimum standard condition of service (NJIC), which was shelved, given to the intervention of the former Honourable Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amechi’s intervention, who constituted a Technical Committee comprising of members from the Union, the Shipping Employers Association, while the Nigeria Shippers Council were appointed to mediate over the protracted matter,” the statement reads in part.
The Union further refuted claims that the shipping companies were engaging the Maritime Workers Union on certain improvements to terms and conditions for its employees.
“If this assertion as was raised by Mrs Boma was true, why did the Union issue out another 7-day warning notice in anticipation of an indefinite strike?” the Union asked.
It said that it never held any “total of 15 meetings” with the Nigerian Shippers Council since April to September, 2023, and added that it is but “another fabricated lie as the meeting billed for October 30 was as a result of this recent ultimatum issued.”
“Yes, if SAN was not lackadaisical over the NJIC matter which has dragged this long even with the constituted committee led by the Shippers Council, which up till now has not scale through; for the fact that the representatives of SAN have no mandate to take decisive decisions each time the parties have met. This has been the major factor why we are still stagnated over the matter.
“No doubt, SAN has been trying to avoid what will bring the NJIC matter into fruition; hence, they keep sending their delegates without give them a clear cut mandate over this open-ended matter to bring it to a closure.”
The Union vowed to keep fighting for the improvement of its members’ welfare and would “not sit down with folded arms and watch our members being enslaved over what is due them in the industry, hence, the Union’s call for strike action towards making sure that this matter is resolved once for all.”
