12th June, 2023
By Isa Isawade
Members of an aggrieved faction of the Maritime workers union who identify themselves as “The Over 5000 Maritime Workers Union Of Nigeria That Were Unlawfully Removed From The Seaport In 2000” have condemned the way and manner leadership of the Maritime Workers Union Of Nigeria (MWUN) has been conducting the affairs of the workers, especially the ongoing indefinite strike declared by the union.
The group highlighted the shortcomings in the industrial action as declared by the union’s leadership during a press briefing it held on Sunday 11 June in Lagos after its members staged a street protest to call the attention of concerned authorities to their plights.
According to the group, the leadership of MWUN led by its President had on 1st of June 2023 declared an indefinite strike over “non-implementation of the collective bargaining agreement signed by the Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria before the Ministry of Labour & Employment; Ministry of Transportation, and NIMASA”.
The aggrieved workers accused the union leadership of failing to declare a strike when it ought to, and that when it eventually declared one after four years, it left out important ingredients of the workers’ agitation.
The speech delivered by their president during the press briefing read in part: “On the 8th of March 2008, all the Port stakeholders, with the full representation of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria signed and sealed ‘Minimum Standard for the Dock Labour Industry’ in presence of the then MD of Nigeria Ports Authority NPA Mr Abdulsalam Abubakar and the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
“The ‘Minimum Standard for the Dock Labour Industry’ provides that the minimum wage for Dockworkers is N33, 000 with 10% increase every year, whether they work or not.
“The MD of NPA Mr Abdulsalam Abubakar in an interview stated that ‘the document presents a package of incentives to encourage workers to perform efficiently.’
“The Minimum Standard document for the Dockworkers which the MD NPA emphasized provides two distinct remuneration plans under the subtheme of (1) Minimum per tonnage/unit rate and (2) Time related wages to be increased.
“Up till the time of this Press Briefing Dock Workers have not benefited from the ‘Minimum Standard for the Dock Labour Industry.’
“Why did Mr President of WMUN exclude this laudable agreement for Dockworkers on the grounds for calling for an indefinite strike action?”
Regarding the second major issue of non-implementation of the collective bargaining agreement signed between the Seaport Terminal Operators Of Nigeria (STOAN) and the Maritime workers, the group said: “The agreement, which was documented involves increases in their wages and allowances and certain emoluments and benefits, which include payment of redundancy and retirement benefits by terminal operators to aged dockworkers, payment of specified allowances to a deceased dock worker’s next of kin and pension contribution scheme for dock workers amongst other items listed in the agreement.
“The question begging for an answer is, why did the President of MWUN wait for 4 years after the non-implementation of the signed and sealed Collective Bargaining Agreement before calling for a strike action on 1st June 2023?”