By Segun Oladipupo,
The President General of the Maritime workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu Abi has called on the management of Lekki Free Port (LFT) to always involve union leaders in decision making at the terminal
He made the call when he in the company of the union leadership paid a working visit to the port on Wednesday
According to Bunu, there have been gaps between the management and the workers which has caused some skirmishes between the duo
He maintained that the union leaders are getting distress calls from the workers even as he quipped that there is no love lost between the workers and the management.
Explaining, he said that the relationship between the workers and the management is supposed to be like that of a father and his children
He added that issues of workers’ welfare should follow the right procedures saying workers must follow procedures of engagements.
“Workers have the doubt that the management is not on their side, they want a better relationship with the management team and be carried along
“Whatever you do that will bring progress to the port, we will support it. We want our district, unit chairmen to vecarried along in the activities of the port and if any issue is beyond them, they will call us.
“Workers and management are like children and parent. We want to come and have a discussion with you on behalf of our members because they are having teething problems and we have to discuss them.
“We also want you to bring issues bothering you about workers so that we can sort it out and to strengthen our relationship.
“From the district to the unit, they have no right to do anything outside you and If they do, you will fire them.
“Procedures are often breached by the management and the union, the blame is on both of us.
Before you and I intervene in any matter, it should have gone through necessary tables for resolution.
“We want brother and sister relationship and see this business as our business. You should be able to go to bed with your eyes closed.
“Let us conduct ourselves as ones doing a world class job because Lekki is rated as one of the highest ports in the world.
“Workers have the doubt that the management is not on their side, they want a better relationship with the management team and be carried along
“Whatever you do that will bring progress to the port, we will support it,” he submitted.
In his comment, the President of the dock workers branch of MWUN, Comrade Tajudeen Ohize explained that the whole essence of the PG’s submission is that he wants governance to start from the grassroots.
On carrying the workers along, Ohize added that there would always be complaints but if everybody is carried along, it makes the job easy for the leaders.
“We want to strengthen our relationship because there is procedures that every port operates on. Involve them in your meetings,” he said.
Responding, the Chief Executive Officer of LFT, Christophe Cassang stated that the organisation had been fair to the workers since his assumption as CEO at the terminal.
He however promised to improve on the welfare of the workers.
He added that what would bring solutions to issues at the terminal, is what the organisation stands for.
