Less than 7 months into operation, Lekki Freeport, staff on showdown as workers withdraw services.
Less than 7 months into operation, Lekki Freeport, staff on showdown as workers withdraw services.
Segun Oladipupo.
In less than seven months of operation, there is already a friction between the management and staff of Lekki Freeport as workers on Tuesday, started an indefinite strike following refusal of the terminal operators decline on workers’ welfare.
The workers had alleged that the management on September, failed to pay its staff and sib contractors the Child education support fund
The workers also accused the terminal of discontinuing the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the representatives of the workers and the management
In a chat with out correspondent, Murtala Ajao, Lekki Freeport District Chairman of Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) said that unless the management acceded to the yearnings of the workers the union would not go back to work.
“We’re going to resume pending discussion in November.”
He added that the reconciliatory meeting held on Tuesday yielded no positive result hence, the continuation of the industrial action.
“Yeah, there’s disagreement between we the workers and Lekki Free Port Terminal over Education child support which management supposed to pay to is staff and sub contractor and failed to pay in September, and also don’t want to continue with the ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA ),for the workers. These are the two reasons that led us to strike.
“We had gone on a strike already, and have a meeting with Management on Tuesday
“Unless he refused to continue with the meeting in November then we will know the next line of action from our leader.
“Yes, this engagement of talk happened on Tuesday but not concluded yet. ”
Efforts to get the side of the terminal proved abortive as at the time of filing this report
The workers had alleged that the Managing Director of Lekki Freeport, Mr. Yann Magarian has been unfriendly with workers in terms of labour welfare implementation.
When contacted, Mrs Ibiso Eteh, Human Resources Manager of the terminal said she was not available to give comment on the development.
