| NIMASA, Maritime Workers Union reach
accord
By MARTINS NWANNE
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA)
has reached an agreement with Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria
(MWUN) on the 14 days ultimatum given by the union.
In a communiqué signed by both parties and made available
to Daily Sun, both parties agreed that non-payment of severance
package to Tally Clerks and Security men in Onne Port in Rivers
State, should be investigated by NIMASA Director General in
one week.
It was also agreed that Maritime Labour Services Department
in NIMASA, should physically verify the dockworkers currently
employed by Private Terminal Operators.
According to the communique, emphasis should be placed on
flushing out from the terminals all unregistered dockworkers
while their fraudulent employers, should be penalized.
The parties also agreed that the names of 125 seamen ratings
currently shortlisted for training should be made available
to Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria’s management before
the training project is implemented.
The communiqué also emphasized that NIMASA’s
Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services should initiate
a tripartite meeting of Indigenous Ship Owners, Maritime Workers
Union of Nigeria and NIMASA to negotiate the conditions of
service of Nigerian seamen in their employment.
The communique further directed NIMASA’s management
to discuss the issue of unionization of the workers at the
executive management meeting when next it meets with union
officials.
Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, had last January 29, given
the management of NIMASA, a 14 day ultimatum to address various
issues relating to conditions of service of seamen, unionization
of dockers employed by terminal operators and non-payment
of severance package of some tally clerks among others.
The ultimatum has been suspended while the communiqué
was signed by Dr. Ade Dosumu, NIMASA’s Director General
and Comrade Olikolease Irabor, President General of Maritime
Workers Union of Nigeria. |
