MWUN Reacts to Dockworkers Distress Call At Lekki Port, Seeks Stronger Labor-Management Ties
Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Freeport Terminal, Christophe Cassang (1st right) displaying the layout of the port project to visiting national executives of Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) led by Comrade Francis Bunu (3rd from right)
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) is stepping in to address brewing concerns at Lekki Freeport Terminal.
On Wednesday, MWUN President General, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, led a delegation to the port, responding to distress calls from dockworkers regarding operational issues and a perceived lack of communication from management.
Bunu and his team were received by Christophe Cassang, CEO of Lekki Freeport Terminal, and other senior management officials.
The visit marked a crucial step towards mending a relationship that Bunu likened to that of a husband and wife.
Bridging the Communication Gap, Bunu said “We have deemed it fit to introduce ourselves to you and also to get feedback.
We recently got distress calls from our members working at this terminal on what is bordering their operations but the management of the port have refused to address the issues”
Bunu emphasized the newly elected executive’s commitment to proactive engagement. He highlighted the union’s receipt of numerous complaints from members about unresolved operational issues, leading to direct intervention after attempts to address them at lower levels proved unsuccessful.
Bunu stressed the importance of a structured approach to problem-solving, saying that “There are procedures that must be followed, but those procedures are often being breached by management and the union,”
He urged both sides to respect the established hierarchy, ensuring that issues are first handled by in-house union representatives and HR before escalating to the President General or CEO.
A significant point of contention raised by Bunu was the non-recognition of the in-house union, which he said was undermining respect for established protocols among some workers.
“No worker has the right to take laws into their hands,” he asserted, reiterating that the in-house union should always be the first point of contact for any workplace issues.
The MWUN leader also called for greater inclusion of district chairmen and branch presidents in the port’s activities. He emphasized the need to restore trust between workers and management, asserting that workers must see the Lekki Freeport business as their own and conduct themselves professionally, befitting Lekki Port’s status as a world-class facility.
Bunu concluded by formally submitting letters outlining the workers’ grievances to the management.
Also speaking, Comrade Tajudeen Ohize, President of the Dockworkers Branch of MWUN, echoed Bunu’s sentiments, advocating for governance to start from the grassroots so that everybody is carried along.
He underscored the importance of established procedures for addressing workers’ complaints, noting that “before the complaints of workers get to the PG, it must pass through the normal procedures.”
Ohize also informed management of an upcoming election within the month to usher in a new President for the Dockworkers Branch as his eight-year tenure concludes.
Responding to the union’s concerns, Lekki Freeport Terminal CEO Christophe Cassang acknowledged past issues with protocol adherence.
“We agree that problems have to be solved at the right level,” Cassang stated, assuring the union that moving forward, established processes would be strictly followed for quicker resolution of issues.
Following the productive discussions, the visiting union executives embarked on a tour of the Lekki Freeport Terminal.
