The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has announced that it will begin an indefinite walkout in the country’s shipping industry on October 30.
In a statement issued through the Union’s Head of Media, Mr. John Kennedy Ikemefuna, the President-General, Mr. Adewale Adeyanju, stated that the requirement for the directive came about as a result of the shipping companies’ representative’s resistance to negotiating a minimum standard condition of service for the industry.
Adeyanju said,
“A technical committee comprising the union and shipping employers was also inaugurated by the minister to harmonise the union’s demands after three meetings held could not resolve the protracted Minimum Standard Condition of Service issue with the union.
“It is worthy of note also that when a truce was almost in sight, the representatives of the shipping employers at the negotiation table began to develop a lackadaisical attitude toward the entire exercise.
“This gave them away as lacking the mandate to take decisions; their cold feet on the matter subsequently led to the collapse of the negotiation.”
He noted that the shipping branch of the union would commence the suspended indefinite action throughout the nation’s port formations after the expiration of the renewed seven-day ultimatum issued.
“The other three branches of the union, namely: Nigerian Ports Authority, dockworkers, and the seafarers will in solidarity join their colleagues in the strike action”, he stated.
Platinum Times recalls that the former Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo’s intervention, necessitated suspending the indefinite strike action billed for June 5.