MWUN Kicks Against 5,000 Dock Workers’ Sack

The leadership of Mari
time Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), has kicked against the recent sacking of 5,000 dock workers by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
In a statement by the union in Lagos on Wednesday, the dock workers were sacked on the instruction and approval of the Federal Government that NPA should terminate the 10 years contract it has with Tally Clerks (TCs) and onboard security men who are stevedoring contractors at various sea terminals in the country and members of the union.
The union said the government should review such directive as many families have been affected, stressing that management has the statutory right to renew the stevedoring companies contract in line with the change mantra of the present administration and current ports reform in total conformity with the laws governing activities at the ports.
The union said throwing 5000 workers into the labour market now in the face of the economic reality is direct punshiment and hardship on the affected families as the pay off would not solve their problems.
The union said it is standard practice for a ship to have a security men contrary to the position of NPA that the responsibility lies on the terminal operators to employ security detail on ship.
The union said that NIMASA also has the responsibility to ensure members of the union are not arbitrarily sacked especially the tally clerks.
The union urged for a comprehensive review of the policy directing the sack of the union members in the interest of industrial harmony within the nation’s ports.