The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Monday reached an agreement with Shipping Companies/Agencies and Freight Forwarders Employers Association (SCAFFEA) on an acceptable minimum standard working conditions for its members.
This was after the Union had initiated a nationwide shutdown of their operations.
The MWUN had issued several ultimatums to the agencies in the past, after failed attempts to get them on a round table to discuss the minimum standards on the condition of service in the shipping subsector of the maritime industry.
Following Monday’s strike action, SCAFFEA has now agreed to establish an acceptable minimum standard condition, especially on gratuity. However, this agreement was not without the intervention of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
Also, a one month timeline, starting from Monday June 5, to July 4, 2023 was set for completion of the negotiations.
In a communique issued at the end of a meeting between the NSC, MWUN and SCAFFEA on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Shippers’Council training room, the following resolutions were reached:
“Maritime Workers Union and Shipping Companies/Agencies and Freight Forwarders Employers Association expressed commitment for sincere negotiations on the Minimum Standard of Condition of Service in the Industry.
“Parties agreed to a timeline of One Month starting from Monday 5th June, 2023 to 4th July 2023 for completion of the negotiations.
“Parties to establish an acceptable Minimum Standards on the Condition of Service in the Shipping Industry especially on gratuity.
“Based on the above, the Maritime Workers Union agreed to suspend the on-going industrial strike”.
The communique was signed by the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shipper’s Council, Emmanuel Jime; President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, and Mr. Ascanio Russo for SCAFFEA.
