The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has suspended the seven-day ultimatum issued to the Shipping Association of Nigeria for their refusal to negotiate the minimum standard for shipping labour.
The Union, under the leadership of Comrade Adewale Adeyanju in a statement on Wednesday, said that the suspension is due to the intervention of the Ministry of Transportation through the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC).
MWUN added that a meeting has been scheduled for April 13, 2023 in order to resolve the issue.
The Union had in February, threatened that its members in the shipping, dock, seamen and NPA sector will withdraw their services from all ports, jetties, terminals and oil and gas platform nationwide if the shipping companies fail to comply with their demands.
According to the Union, its members are currently underpaid and overused, adding that it has been trying to negotiate a better working condition for them since 2019.
Adeyanju accused the shipping companies in Nigeria and employers of labour in the sector of continuous and outright refusal to interface with MWUN and negotiate a minimum standard of employment for its employees.
Read full statement on the suspension below.
SUSPENSION OF A 7-DAY ULTIMATUM ISSUED SHIPPING ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA
The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria under the aegis of the President General, Comrade (Prince) Adewale Adeyanju has suspended the seven (7) day ultimatum for the refusal of Employers of labour in the shipping sector to negotiate the minimum standard for shipping labour industry.
The suspension of the ultimatum by the Union is coming on the heels of Nigeria Shippers Council intervention on the said matter who has given strong indication to the Union on resolving the issue.
The Ministry of Transport through the Nigeria Shippers Council has intervened and has called for a meeting scheduled for 13th April, 2023 to hold at the Nigeria Shippers Council in Lagos.
