The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has announced that it would on Monday October 30, 2023 commence a seven-day industrial action in the shipping arm of the Union.
The directive endorsed by its President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has stated that the initial suspended strike action against the shipping companies be resuscitated by Monday the 30th of October, 2023.
The directive is coming on the heels of the shipping employers representatives ill attitude toward the negotiated minimum standard condition of service for the shipping sector.
It would be recalled that the former 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 the Union and shipping employers to harmonise the Union’s demands after the three meetings held could not resolve the protracted Minimum Standard Condition of Service (NJIC) issue with the Union.
MWUN also noted that when truce was almost in sight, the representatives of the shipping employers at the negotiation table began to develop lackadaisical attitude towards the entire exercise, which gave them away as lacking the mandate to take decisions; their cold feet on the matter subsequently led to the collapse of the negotiation.
It said: “Flowing 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.
“The other three branches of the Union, namely: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dockworkers, and the Seafarers will in solidarity join their colleagues in the strike action.”