Chairman, Shipping Association of Nigeria SAN, Mrs. Boma Alabi OON SAN.

Shipping Association of Nigeria SAN, umbrella body for all multinational shipping lines agents operating in the country, has reacted to the recent seven-day ultimatum by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN to the shipping lines and their agents over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement CBA, saying the notice did not follow known due process in handling such issues.

Chairman of the association, Mrs. Boma Alabi OON SAN, who spoke in Lagos, Wednesday while fielding questions from journalists during a press conference, disclosed that the provisions of the country’s Labour Act should have been strictly followed in declaring such ultimatum, but regretted that such was not the case.

According to her, the maritime industry, which is one of the segments of the Nigerian society is governed by the Labour Act and so the provisions of such legislation should be strictly followed under such circumstances.

She however disclosed that the leadership of the association is constantly engaging with the leadership of the union, insisting that the shipping agents are always and ever open to discussions and negotiations, which would ensure industrial peace and harmony for the nation’s maritime industry.

She warned that embarking on a strike action, especially at this point in time, would not be in the interest of anybody, both the employer and employee, adding that such strike, which would lead to shutdown would hurt the nation’s economy, which would not be desirable given what the country and its citizens are currently going through.

“Nigerians are going through a lot at this point in time; fuel scarcity, naira scarcity and the elections are coming close. So any strike will definitely not be in the interest of any of the parties, not even Nigeria’s economy.

“We were given a similar ultimatum in December last year and this one now. But we will continue with our engagements with the workers, which should be a continuum. There will be no employer without employee and there will be no employee without employer. The employers and employees have a common interest; make more profits and pay higher salaries and provide better working conditions for our workers”, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted.

While speaking on the condition of service of the workers, she said: “Our workers here are not treated differently, our members operate the same global standards everywhere.”

Mrs. Alabi, who joined the association in May, last year however congratulated the President –General of the MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju on his recent election as the First Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC, extoling his good quality leadership traits, which have also helped to launch him to the national sphere of labour unionism in the country.

Recall that the union had Thursday, last week, given members of the association seven days to sign a new CBA with the workers or face withdrawal of services.

Adeyanju had alleged that the shipping agnts were reluctant to negotiate a welfare package for the workers, adding that other branches under the union have an existing general CBA with their employers, while SAN members are pushing to adopt individual packages for their workers.