Maritime Workers Threaten Strike Over Salary Arrears

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has threatened to shut down the nation’s ports from Monday, July 1 over the refusal of the management of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to pay the outstanding 11 months salary arrears owed the union members.

The union has also petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan over the plight of its members in the hands of NPA Management.

The union alleged that the management of NPA was owing its members tally Clerks, on board securitymen, not less than 11 months salary arrears.

The union alleged that the management of NPA rather spent about N300 million monthly to pay illegal employees known as cargo surveyors, who do not have anything to do at the ports.

The union said, the failure of the management of NPA to comply with the union directive to pay the tally clerks, onboard security men and disengage the cargo surveyors before June 30 the union will not hesitate to shut down the nation’s ports from next week.

The union said, dockworkers including the tally clerks and onboard security men were registered by the National Dock Labour Board (NDLB) to professionally work at the sea ports, private terminals and jetties.

The union said such categories of its members were trained in the act of cargo handling/loading and discharging of ships.