Maritime workers to resume 7-day suspended strike Oct. 30

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) says it will resume a suspended strike in the shipping sector of the nation’s economy on Oct. 30.

The President-General, Mr. Adewale Adeyanju, made this known in a statement signed by Mr. John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media, MWUN, on Wednesday in Lagos.

Adeyanju said the directive was coming on the heels of the failure of shipping employers representatives to negotiate the minimum standard of service (NJIC) 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 June 5.

“A technical committee comprising the union and shipping employers was also inaugurated by the minister to harmonise the union’s demands after three meetings held could not resolve the protracted Minimum Standard Condition of Service issue with the union.

“It’s worthy to note also that when truce was almost in sight, the representatives of the shipping employers at the negotiation table began to develop a lackadaisical attitude towards the entire exercise.

“This gave them away as lacking the mandate to take decisions; their cold feet on the matter subsequently led to the collapse of the negotiation,” he said.

According to Adeyanju, the shipping branch of the union will commence the suspended indefinite action throughout the nation’s port formations after the expiration of the renewed seven-day ultimatum issued.

“The other three branches of the union, namely the Nigerian Ports Authority, dockworkers, and seafarers, will in solidarity join their colleagues in the strike action,” Adeyanju said.