Anti-Labour Activities :NLC May picket GMT Shipping * Condemns sacking of union workers

Anti-Labour Activities :NLC May picket GMT  Nigeria Ltd
* Condemns sacking of union workers

NLC President,Comrade Joe Ajero

Frank Odinukaeze

The Nigerian Labour Congress ( NLC), has warned the management of GMT Nigeria Ltd. to halt its anti union activities its Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) members or risk industrial crisis.
In a letter addressed to the Management of the company and signed by the President of the NLC,Comrade Joe Ajero ,and made available to Premium News Daily (PND), by the Head of Media, Maritime Workers Union (MWUN), Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna,the NlC condemned the anti – labour activities of the company against its affiliate members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) ,and the urgent need to address the contentious issues raised

The letter reads,” 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 dully elected unit executives. However, 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 5. Use of the Police to harass the National leadership of the union at various police formations on frivolous allegations.

” We wish to note that these are weighty issues that not only violate extant labour laws in our country, but contravene international labour standards as enshrined in to conventions that Nigeria is signatory to.

“Of more concern has been your blatant Jettisoning of the communique of June 5, 2023, signed by the Nigerian Shippers Council, the Maritime Workers union of Nigeria and the Shipping Companies/Agencies Freight Forwarders Employers of which you were part of. The agreement, which at the heel of the strike action embarked upon by the union, had covered a range of issues directed at resolving industrial relations challenges in the shipping sector, and some of these included prevailing complaints of the union against your company.

” Apart from ignoring the agreement, your Management was said to have not only reported the strike action to the Police in an attempt to muzzle the union leadership, but instituted a court case against the union on a general strike action that was not targeted at the company.

“We strongly condemn the anti-labour activities of your company, and if not discontinued might plunge the Maritime industry into avoidable crisis. Consequently, we urge you to respect the agreement between the union and shipping companies brokered by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, and enter into meaningful dialogue with the union on its demands with a view to reaching amicable resolution” it concluded