By Uzor Odigbo
Dockworkers from the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have shut down Josepdam Port Services (JPS)t erminal on Tin Can Island over allegations of unfair treatment and short-changing the workers.
It was learnt that the protest started on Wednesday but escalated on Thursday as the workers alleged that management of the terminal failed to look into the cause of their grievances.
Out checks confirmed that the aggrieved placards carrying dockers called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to probe the unfair treatment of workers by the concessionaire.
Some of the placards read” NPA End Josep Dam Now”, “Save Our Soul NIMASA”, “Workers Work By Tonnage But Josep Dam Pays By Unit, “Workers Are Under Tension ” etc.
The grouse, according to the dockworkers, centre on the allegations of under declaration of tonnage, mutilation of workers’ rights, payment of unit instead of tonnage,among other issues.
The workers also alleged that the terminal operator has embarked on incessant sacking of workers without due process, frustration of workers as well as failure to pay workers’ terminal benefits and bonuses.
A copy of their demands urged the concessionaire to : “Pay us our arrears of all the under-declaration of tonnage since 2006.”the statement added.
In a list of demands by the workers, the apex maritime regulatory agency, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been urged to probe the activities of the terminal saying the concessionaires are enslaving Nigerians in their fathers ‘land.
When our correspondent engaged some top officials of the concessionaire on Thursday, they declined comments saying the Managing Director is the only one that can comment on the alleged unfair treatment of workers. Though, the national executives of the union are yet to comment on the issues befalling dockers at the terminal, the district executives vowed to sustain the protest until management of the concessionaire yield to their demands.