MWUN: Comrade Adeyanju vows to defend Workers rights over unwarranted harassment

… As Union Threatens to Shut Down Ports Operations***

The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adewale Adeyanju has threatened that the union will withdraw its services from the ports, if the molestation, harassment and intimidation of its members persists.

A Prince of Ibadan, Adeyanju stressed: “Any attempt by any group or organization to molest, harass and intimidate members of the union in their respective place of work again would result to withdrawal of service in port operations”.

Reacting to an alleged unlawful invasion of five shipping companies by the Federal Committee on Competition and Consumers Protection, Adeyanju said: “I wish to bring to the general public the sudden and shocking invasion of five shipping companies by agents who claim to be from the Federal Committee on Competition and Consumer Protection on Monday.

It was also gathered that the union members working in the five shipping companies- Cosco Shipping, HULLBLYTH, CMA/CGM, LANSAL and Hapag Lloyd were embarrassed, molested and harassed by heavily armed personnel who, without sympathy, invaded premises as clearing agents were detained and later released.

While the union stated that it was not against government agencies doing their work, it noted that laid down procedures should be followed, adding that enquires at the Nigerian Shippers Council which is the regulating agency for all shipping companies indicated that they were not informed nor aware of this invasion of members’ workplaces.

“We have been informed that agents from the Federal Committee of Competition And Consumer Protection escorted by heavily armed Policemen and Army personnel invaded the work premises of our members in COSCO Shipping, HULLBLYTH, CMA/CGM, CANSAL and HAPAD LYOD and proceeded to unleash mayhem on innocent working members of the union.

“They seized their personal phones without any justification and held them hostage against their will and refused them movement outside their various offices.

“While we are not against Government agencies doing their work, we believe that laid down procedures should be followed.

“Our enquiries at the Nigerian Shippers Council which is the regulating agency for all shipping companies indicate that they were not informed nor aware of this invasion of our member’s work places.

“Secondly, we do not also believe that any category of workers should be subjected to this inhuman treatment without just cause or prior information.

“Finally, we ask that this invasion of our workplaces and the keeping of our members’ hostage be immediately discontinued and investigated by the appropriate authority for the sake of industrial harmony in the ports.

“Note that should this kind of invasion our member’s work places continue without due process, the Union will have no option but withdraw the services of its members.”