Maritime Workers Kick, Over MSC Shipping Planned Takeover of TICT Terminal, Bollore Logistics

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has said that TICT has received an offer from Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) to aquire 100 percent of Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) and Bollore Transport and Logistics Nigeria Limited.

Based on the foregoing, the workers union has expressed fears over the fate of its members.

President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju lamented the continued refusal of TICT and Bollore to respond to enquiries by the union on the acquisition plan.

He said the union had first written to both companies on September 14, 2022 to know the fate of its members but the companies management have since remained silent and failed to engage the union on the matter.

Consequently, the union has issued a seven- day ultimatum to both TICT and Bollore demanding to the know the fate of its members and the next line of action in the event of management change regarding the retention of their members jobs or payoff.

In a letter dated 14th November 2022 addressed to the management of both companies signed by Oniha Erazua on behalf of the Secretary General of MWUN, the union threatened that at the expiration of the seven- day notice, it will be forced to withdraw its services from the port if its demands are not met.

The union said this has become necessary in the face of rising agitation and restiveness in the un-clear effect of the aftermath of the acquisition on members job retention or outright payoff.

The letter titled Re- Important Announcement from Cyrille Bollore: Demand to Know the Fate of Our Members reads in part, “We are surprised that despite the very sensitive and germane matter the letter sought answer to, your management is yet to respond, thereby giving room to suspicion and negative speculations on the fate of our members- your employers, at the end of the company’s acquisition process.

“On the strength of the above and given the increasing restiveness of our members in the employ, I am directed to give you notice of a seven day ultimatum starting from the date of this letter within which your management is expected to furnish us with the information requested.

“Please note that the union would take all necessary redemptive means to protect the interest of our members, including withdrawing our services at the expiration of this ultimatum.”