Hope rises for dock workers

NIGERIAN dock-workers may be set for a season of naira-rains, as Seaport Terminal Operators
Association of Nigeria (STOAN) and Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have signed a new pact aimed at raising the welfare and wages of dockworkers.
  STOAN Chairman, Princess Vicky Haastrup confirmed this, highlighting that the reviewed welfare package, which has been backdated to take effect from 1st June 2014 to 31st May 2016 and thus, valid for a period of two years, would also see all arrears under the new package paid on or before this month end.
 Princess Vicky who also called for the reduction of the number of government agencies operating at the ports as well as the streamlining of clearing processes so as to reduce cargo dwell time at the ports, pointing out that the terminal operators would equally continue to make 10 percent contribution of total emolument in favour of each dockworker in their employment so as to ensure very strong platform for dockworkers' retirement, however stated further, that each dockworker would still contribute only 8 percent, in line with the Pension Commission Act.
  “When we took over operation of the terminal at the onset of the port concession programme in 2006, we promised not to only modernise the port but to also improve the working conditions of port workers and I am happy to report that we have continued to deliver excellent results in both directions,” Haastrup said, adding that the increase was the high point of negotiation between STOAN and MWUN representatives, under a collective bargaining agreement.
  “Another good news for the dockworkers is the payment of attendant arrears which took effect from the end of the lifespan of the previous agreement which was 1st of June 2014. This translates to one year arrears of agreed percentage which the terminal operators will pay by 15th June 2015,” Haastrup said, indicating that dock workers at the sea port now enjoy much better working condition compared to what obtained in the pre-port concession era.
  She lauded MWUN leadership for its  maturity and patriotism during the negotiations, and called on dockworkers to reciprocate the terminal operators' good gesture by showing commitment to their jobs and shunning acts that could be inimical to the smooth running of the ports.