Maritime Workers Give NPA July 30 Ultimatum
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria last week gave the Nigerian Ports Authority up till July 30 to meet its demands without which it would embark on a strike.
President of the MWUN, Mr Tony Nted, made the disclosure in Lagos.
It was confirmed that the union had met with the NPA and agreed that their demands be met on or before July 30, 2015.
Nted said, “We met with the NPA today (Tuesday) and we discussed on the way forward which is meeting our demands.
“We, however, told them that the demands should be met on or before July 30 or we will resort to strike.
“We want to remain optimistic that the NPA will take the necessary steps as discussed.
“Our demands still remain the issue of salary arrears being owed the workers and the need for the port access roads to be fixed.
“Other issues, like that of the job definition of the cargo surveyors and the Tally Clerks have been discussed too.”
When contacted on the development, Mr Musa Iliya, an Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs of the NPA, said details of the meeting would be made known in a communiqué.
NAN reports that the union had threatened to embark on strike by July 20 if the NPA did not meet its demands.
It had issued a 14-day ultimate to the NPA within which their eight months’ salary arrears should be settled or face the port being shut to operations.
It will be recalled that members of the union had embarked on strike late in 2014 over the lingering issues of Cargo Surveyors taking over their jobs and non-payment of salary.