There is disagreement among the leaderships of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) branch and the Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transportation and Corporation (SSACTAC), Maritime branch over the outcome of a meeting held with the NPA management on Tuesday.
The meeting between the NPA management and the leadership of the two labour unions was to decide on suspension or otherwise of the proposed strike action earlier scheduled to commence on Monday.
But while one of the two labour unions confirmed to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY that another meeting with NPA management has been scheduled to hold on Friday to decide on the unions’ next line of action, the other said the proposed strike action has been suspended indefinitely.
The two unions had on Thursday last week jointly signed a letter calling on their members to stay at home from Monday 18th August, 2014 following the inability of the management of NPA to meet their demands.
The Maritime branch President of SSACTAC, Comrade Jimoh Omeiza Umar, told our Correspondent at the end of the meeting with the NPA management on Tuesday that the strike had been suspended for one week to allow for further negotiations.
“The strike was only on hold for a week. We are still in discussions with the Authority and would meet them on Friday afternoon to know the next line of action.
“A final decision whether to suspend or embark on the strike will be taken on Friday after the meeting with NPA Management,” Umar told our correspondent on phone.
But the President of MWUN, NPA branch, Comrade Adeleke Sanni said the proposed strike had been suspended indefinitely because the NPA management had acceded to their demands.
“The strike has been suspended because in the meeting we have today (Tuesday) with the management of NPA they have promised to meet our demands,” Sanni said.
It is therefore not clear if the unions will harmonise their positions before ther next meeting with the NPA management or if they will pursue their causes separately.
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