BREAKING: MWUN Shutdown Bestaf Bonded Terminal KLT Phase 2 Over Anti Labour Activities
Apparently determined to achieve a total halt of port operations over anti labour activities, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Dockworkers , Tin Can Island Port District 2, on Monday, shutdown Bestaf Bonded Terminal, a subsidiary of MRS Oil and Gas Limited, situated at Kiri Kiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) phase 2.
The union lamented that management of the bonded terminal has failed to carry out due diligence in the engagement of workers.
DAILYFOCUS NIGERIA gathered that workers at the terminal were short staffed without the appropriate Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) to work with and the terminal operator has also failed to engage the union against the backdrop of existing labour laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking with our correspondent at the terminal , Chairman, District 1 , MWUN, Comrade Oluwole Adetumi noted that the shutdown was an instruction from the President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju.
Adetumi decried the alleged ongoing anti labour activities must stop noting that the union frowned at the alleged half baked arrangements on workers engagement.
According to the district chairman, workers who were instructed to down tools should not touch any equipment at the facility adding that the workers on ground were being enslaved.
“We cannot continue like this because the people that will work at the quay apron at the same people that will work at the examination bay and that time the same people will work at the terminal.
“There is no way you can use the same people for unlashing of containers, offload , stuff back and at the same time conduct customs examinations . No!.
He further alleged that MRS and its subsidiary continuously undermine Nigerian workers , pointing out that management of the company has failed to engage the union constructively on the way forward for better bargaining of members.
The Chairman alleged that the terminal operator has not consulted the MWUN about the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in line with the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC).
He affirmed that the bonded terminal operator has the wherewithal to engage more hands to boost productivity but added that twenty workers cannot do the job alone at the off dock facility.
“This modern day slavery is no longer acceptable so therefore we are shutting down the terminal. This unholy activities have been ongoing since last year.
Giving a vivid background about the trade dispute, Adetumi stated that the MWUN had written series of letter without proper response from management of Bestaf Marine.
Adetumi lamented that the terminal failed to also provide toilets, changing room and dockworkers pool where they can relax after work.
Also speaking with union executives present at the peaceful demonstration, representatives of the terminal, Mr. Babatunde Longe explained that management had made several moves to engage the union.
In an heated argument, Longe, a former Port Manager TCIPC ,Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), maintained that the management was eager to engage the union in resolving the dispute.
He further urged the district executives to relay his message to the union leader noting that terminal operator is willing for dialogue.
By Roland Ekama
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