MWUN Threatens Shutdown Of Crown Flour Mills Over Unionization Dispute

MWUN Threatens Shutdown Of Crown Flour Mills Over Unionization Dispute

MWUN PG, comrade Francis Bunu Abi

By Frank Odinukaeze

The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has issued a stern warning to Crown Flour Mills Plc, Lagos, threatening to shut down the company’s port operations over alleged refusal to allow its workers to be unionized.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, the union—led by its President General, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi—accuses the multinational company of denying MWUN access to workers for more than 22 years, despite the workers falling under the jurisdiction of the maritime union.
MWUN described the longstanding situation as “oppressive and suppressive,” alleging that Crown Flour Mills workers have been subjected to unfair labour practices over the years.
Comrade Bunu expressed disappointment that such treatment could persist in what he referred to as a modern era of globalized labour standards, where workers’ rights are meant to be protected and upheld.
He insisted that MWUN remains committed to unionizing the workers and warned that the union would have no choice but to withdraw the services of all Crown Flour Mills staff operating within the ports if the management continues to resist the move. According to him, no legitimate union would allow what he called a “foreign union” to take over workers who fall squarely within its jurisdiction.
The union leader noted that a similar unionization exercise recently succeeded in Warri, Delta State, stressing that the Lagos Ports would not be treated as an exception.