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By Steve Agbota
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has warned management of GMT Nigeria Limited to comply with the recent directive of the Nigerian Shipper’s Council (NSC) and engage the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) meaningfully to avoid general strike.
In a statement signed by President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, the body frowned at the jettisoning of a communique reached by MWUN, NSC and employers of labour in shipping companies and agencies over issues bothering on anti labour activities in the sub sector.
However, the union condemned the ongoing anti-labour activities in GMT Nigeria Limited, adding that if such practices is not discontinued might plunge the maritime industry into avoidable crisis.
Ajaero reiterated that apart from ignoring the agreement, GMT management was said to have not only reported the strike to the police in an attempt to muzzle leadership of MWUN but to institute a court injunction against the union that was not targeted at the company.
“We want to bring to your attention complaints from one of our affiliate unions, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria on a series of anti-labour activities perpetuated by your company and the urgent need to address the issues raised.
“We have been made to understand that after a series of legal battles at the National Industrial Court (NIC), the union established a branch in your company with duly elected unlt executives,” he lamented.
However, he said since constituting the unit executives, the management of the company has launched unrestrained anti-labour activities to frustrate activities of the union.
“These nefarious actions carried out by the management include, termination of the appointment of the unit executives for daring to be elected as workers representatives, harassing and coercing workers to denounce union membership, refusal to sign collective bargaining agreement with the union, issuance of query to intimidate union officials for offences not committed, and use of the Police to harass the national leadership of the union at various police formations on frivolous allegations,” he added.
The shipping and freight forwarding branch of the MWUN embarked on industrial action on June 5, 2023 to drive home their demands for a better welfare packages.
