Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria Prepares For Strike
Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria Prepares For Strike
-To Shut Down the Shipping Sector Indefinitely
By Ebenezer William
President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has directed that the suspended strike action of the Union is to be restored by Monday the 30th of October, 2023.
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 is noteworthy that when a truce was almost in sight, the representatives of the Shipping Employers at the negotiation table began to develop a nonchalant attitude towards the entire process which showed that they lacked the mandate to take decisions and their cold feet on the matter eventually led to the collapse of the negotiation.
Adeyanju said “Following from the above, we as a Union have reiterated that the Shipping Branch of the Union will commence the suspended indefinite action through out the Nation’s port formations after the expiration of the renewed seven-day ultimatum issued.
It is expected that Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dockworkers, and the Seafarers will also join the strike in solidarity with their colleagues.
