The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited to address the union’s demand for the unionization of the employees of its service providers.
MWUN, in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of the company, expressed disappointment that since 2016 after the union held a tripartite meeting between Chevron and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) requesting for the “comprehensive list of all maritime companies providing marine services for Chevron for the purpose of the unionization of their employees”, it has been to no avail.
The letter signed by the union’s Secretary General, Comrade Felix Akingboye, a copy of which was made available to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, accused Chevron of deliberately shielding its employees from being unionized.
According to the letter “Reference is made to a tripartite meeting held on Thursday 24th November, 2016, between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and your management at the NIMASA Zonal office, Warri, Delta State where your management was mandated to submit to NIMASA and the union, the comprehensive list of all maritime companies providing marine services for the purpose of the unionization of their employees.
“We are disappointed to note that till date, you have refused to furnish the required document for unionization thereby shielding your vendors’ employees from being unionized. We have waited long enough and our patient has been stretched to elastic limit.
“We are therefore constrained to issue a 21 day ultimatum effective from Wednesday, 20 February, 2019 within which it is expected to receive the list.”