Lagos — The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has declared an industrial action following a protracted dispute with shipping firms over what it alleges amount to ‘modern-day slavery’ of workers.
The union has directed all it members to shut down operations of shipping firms at the ports nationwide as part of an indefinite strike action, which they say will commence from Monday, June 5.
MWUN said members are to shut down operations of all shipping firms at the seaports across the country over issues bordering on welfare of workers.
President-General of MWUN, Prince Adewale Adeyanju lamented that since 2018, organised labour has been battling with shipping companies operating in the country over the minimum standard of welfare for workers, ‘to no avail’.
Adeyanju disclosed that despite several ultimatums and interventions by the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, shipping companies, especially the multinationals, have refused to yield ground.
“The working conditions of the workers in the nation’s shipping industry is nothing short of modern-day slavery,” he lamented.
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