Dockworkers branch of
the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) that embarked on a two-day warning strike penultimate Monday and Tuesday paralysed activities at the nation’s seaports including that of Onne and Port Harcourt Ports.
The Tide correspondent in Port Harcourt gathered that the Dockworkers were on work-to-rule following the refusal of the terminal operators to pay their reviewed bi-annual wages since June 2014.
Our correspondent gathered that the workers who were on peaceful warning strike said the bi-annual review of their wages had been due for another review, and that several meetings between the top executive of the union and the terminal operators to reach a common agreement had failed.
According to a source, the terminal operators had been recalcitrant over the lingering issue of the wages review since last year, and confirmed that if all avenues of dialogue had been exhausted, they would have no option than to embark on full strike, which would affect port activities until their demands are meant.
A dockworker at Port Harcourt Port who pleaded anonymity told The Tide correspondent that they had endured for so long and promises of payment from their union executives that attend meeting of dialogue in Lagos had failed, stressing that they are tired of failed promises.
Another worker asserted that sometimes when their representatives come back from their meetings, there would be no information from them about the outcome, pointing out that the workers have been suspecting the executive of foul play that needed to be investigated further.
Efforts to get reactions from some terminal operators in Port Harcourt Port proved abortive.
But in his reaction, the Eastern Zonal Vice President of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Waite Harry confirmed the strike and opined that negotiation was in progress.

Collins Barasimeye