The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to shipping companies regarding poor salaries and severance packages to its members.
The Union also frowned on the indiscriminate parking of trucks with containers along various roads within the port city and environs, a situation that should be the responsibility of the shipping companies to handle.
In a letter dated February 2, 2020, signed by Secretary-General of the Union, Comrade Felix Akingboye, and addressed to the Chairman, Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN), the MWUN said it was disappointed by the failure of the association to respond to its request
for a meeting since May 2019.
for a meeting since May 2019.
The letter showed that the MWUN had requested for a meeting with SAN to discuss and negotiate an upward review of severance benefits currently being paid the workers.
Contained in the letter, the MWUN said the shipping companies had expressed contempt and disregard for the workers welfare, going by its non-response to the issue raised.
The letter reads in part that: “In our letter under reference, proposal was made for a meeting of your association and the union to hold between 10th to 14th June, 2019, with a view to reviewing the overdue terminal benefits currently being paid to workers, but up till now, you have not found it necessary to dignify us with a response.
“This is not an attitude that encourages cordial industrial relationship. It is rather an indication of the level of contempt at which you hold the union and the little regard you have for workers welfare.
“The terminal benefits (Industry Condition of Service) currently being paid in the shipping industry was negotiated and became effective in the year 2008, a decade ago.
“Since you have decided to treat our request with levity, I have been directed to issue your association 21 days’ notice effective from the date of this letter, within which you are expected to
convey a meeting with the union for the purpose of reviewing upward the terminal benefits payable to workers at their point of exit.”
convey a meeting with the union for the purpose of reviewing upward the terminal benefits payable to workers at their point of exit.”
