Seafarers’ Threaten Strike Action Against  Atlantas Crew Management Over Refusal To Resolve Demands

The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association NMNOWTSSA has threatened Industrial actions against  Atlanta Crew Management  ACM over failure to respond to numerous demands.

Primarily, the union frowned at the disparity by management of the company on payment of Nigerian seafarers against foreigners lamenting that ACM can improve on this situation by  urgent intervention in mitigating this devastating situation officers onboard its fleets found  themselves.

The seafaring union expressed dissatisfaction over failure on the part of the company to respond to letters written to management of the company for  weeks, hence  the correspondences under reference has not receive the attention it deserves either from the CEO or down line managers, which union in turn described  as unfortunate, saying it can be inimical to operational activities of the company.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) affiliate group maintained that it expected to engage in concerted activities for the purpose of Collective Bargaining and other mutual protection for members,  hence  have been very lenient with the company calling for a meeting to discuss the subject matter, yet very adamant.

Secretary General of NMNOWTSSA , Comrade John Okpono Aleakhue in some of the letters addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Atlantas Crew Management (ACM),Navi – Mumbai, India, on Friday, 29th Sept, 2023 had requested for immediate succour to ameliorate the effect of naira devaluation on Nigeria seamen officers, urging management to meet with the union on or before 8th October, 2023 otherwise it shall proceed on an industrial action.

Giving an insight , he said seafaring is an international profession that requires global wages alignment ; to drive home his point, a Nigerian 2nd Officer for instance has a monthly take home pay of #1,047,350 (One Million and Forty Seven Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty Naira) equivalent to $1,415 (One Thousand Four Hundred and Fifteen) US dollars while his foreign counterparts with the same COC/work schedules earn up to $4,700 (Four Thousand seven hundred US dollars) equivalent to #3,478,000 in Nigeria currency using #740 to $1.

The statement threatened that there shall be three  days’ work to rule commencing from 1200hours on the 9th – 12th October, 2023 if the company fails to engage the union adding that  letter was transmitted to the CEO on the 14th July, 2023 requesting for a meeting which was vehemently refused and subsequent letter dated 22 and August, 2023 and 11th September, 2023 explaining the need for the joint discussion to take place was misconstrued as  response did not meet the understanding.

The leadership of NMNOWTSSA advised both ACM, Good Work Marine Services and Tetra Marine Solution to act accordingly or face the proposed industrial actions.the union warm .

The ITF &TUC affiliate Union also expressed concern over some shipping companies in the country that have no CBA in place for Nigerian seafarers urging  such employees to own up to agreement or have the union to contend with .