AT CBA SIGNING CEREMONY: MWUN Cautions Members On Work Ethics At Lekki Port

By Roland Ekama

in line with Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Maritime Workers’Union of Nigeria (MWUN)has tasked workers and its members at the Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT) to adhere strictly to the tenets and work ethics toward ensuring a robust working relationship between employers and employees.

President General of MWUN Comrade Adewale Adeyanju gave the directive during the signing of CBA between two maritime unions and management of LFT on Thursday in Lagos.

The maiden CBA was inked between the MWUN, Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies SSASCGOC Maritime Branch and management of LFT .

Adeyanju called on the workers at Lekki Port to protect the integrity of the union and ensure that the name of MWUN is not dragged into the mud.

He further appealed to management of the port terminal to recall workers laid off as a result of indiscipline adding that the union will sign on their behalf as means of undertaken.

Adeyanju urged management to also respect workers under employ because according to him, they are core professional with vast experiences before their engagement at LFT.

The unionist further stressed that “We are appealing for management to revisit those sacked . We will continue to appeal because no body is perfect and I believe they have learnt from their mistakes .

“We calling on the CEO to also understand that the workers are already trained and they know what discipline is all about and signing a CBA is all about discipline because you must make sure that we are all humans and we are prone to mistakes .

“We are not here to threaten management because no union will support illegalities from members in any organization.

While expressing satisfaction with management robust working relationship with staff, Adeyanju who doubles as the first Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) stated that MWUN is committed to sanction erring members but noted that some of the actions taken by management were perceived as anti labour policies.

It was gathered that some workers were disengaged by management of LFT while those recalled got salaries deduction as part of efforts to pay for damages.

Earlier , President Dockworkers Branch MWUN, Comrade Tajudeen Ibrahim Ohize lamented that the union was unaware of the sacked workers.

Describing the deduction of workers salary over human error as anti labour activities, Ohize urged management to look inward and recall those affected in the job loss, saying that the union will not fold its hands while members were disengaged without prior notice .

On his part, President of SSASCGOC Maritime Branch Comrade Akinola Bodunde described the signing of the CBA as a smooth journey for workers .

He called on members of the union to be committed and dedicated to work adding that the CBA is review every two years for the betterment of improved standards condition of service for the workers.
He commended management of LFT for their doggedness and resilience to fulfil the necessary obligation for workers.

Bodunde further charged management to engage the workers directly whenever issues arise , rather consulting leadership of the union on minor operational affairs.

Reacting to the appeals earlier made, Chief Executive Officer LFT, Christophe Cassang assured the unions and workers of reviewing the issues of workers affected in the disengagement and suspension.