Leaders of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and management of the various shipping line agencies in the country on Wednesday , reached an agreement in furtherance to better the lots of shipping branch workers of the union.
Over 90% of the employers of labour in the shipping sub sector were in attendance.
The shipping companies in attendance at the meeting include: Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Grimaldi, Maersk,AGS, Saimi Nigeria Limited and Hull Blyth.
Others are LANSAL,PIL CMA CGM, Cosco,GMT Shipping ,GAC, Bollore, ONE,APS and Comet Shipping.
The union had said the present procedural benefit structures practiced by the shipping companies was an old agreement which has been in operation for the past ten years ,saying there was need to review it upwards.
Speaking on the outcome of the closed door meeting , President General of the union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju described the interaction as successful but added that if the employers reneged in their agreement, the strike action would be renewed.
Adeyanju said the union outlined all its demands and both parties agreed to constitute a committee comprising of both parties even as the committee was given one month to present its report.
Issues raised by the union include terminal benefits for workers, upwards review of rates, training of workers and the leaders, amongst many.
The PG told our correspondent, that: “We had a very good meeting with them and in less than one month, all the issues will be sorted out. A committee has been put in place to look at the old agreement and incorporate the new ones. That is to review all the agitation that the shipping branch is calling for.
“We have only suspended the strike action and if they didn’t do It, we will go back to renew our strike action.
Also speaking, President of the Shipping,Clearing and Forwarding branch, Comrade Ekpeyong Etim Ekpeyong who reaffirmed the resolve of the union for holistic review of all the benefits due for the workers.
His words; “It is what we will call intervention meeting, thank God that the employers responded swiftly and we have outlined all the items we want to discuss with them and the items are industry based.
“At the meeting, it was agreed that the old agreement that we entered into in 2010 should be holistically reviewed upward and new item like new rates should be used to calculate terminal benefits at the point of exit be it termination, resignation.
“We have also appealed to them that it is necessary to carry out training for our members and leaders because it will definitely rob off on their performances.
“We listed all those things and although they have agreed that a committee should be set up but the name has not been mentioned. Those are the things that formed the terms of reference.
“The timeline is one month during when we will meet again and hear the report of the committee.
Immediate past president of the branch and National Treasurer of MWUN, Comrade Uche Igweonu described the meeting as fair and balanced engagement by both parties, because according to him, both parties agreed on the need to review the industry standards.
Reaffirming , what the PG had said, Igwe Onu also added that a committee was set up to review the packages adding that all relevant issues were discussed.
“We stated the main issue which was the restructuring of the terminal benefits and to review upwards the rates of the terminal benefits and separating it from pension funds. Those are the main issues,” he said.
However,employers of labour at the meeting declined to make comments .
