Maritime union threatens showdown with  Intels over sack of  600 workers

Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has issued seven- day ultimatum to Intels Nigeria Limited to withdraw all letters of termination and redundancy issued to 600 workers of the organisation or face the wrath of the union.

In a letter signed by the Secretary General of MWUN, Felix Akingboye, the union explained that Associate Maritime Service (AMS), a subsidiary of the organisation, had unilaterally disengaged the workers without recourse to the union.

As a result, Intels and its subsidiary has been asked to recall the affected workers to duty, failure to abide by the notice, which the union said would compel it to withdraw its service from its terminal.

Part of the statement read, “Regrettably, however, we are informed that your management has terminated its contract with Associate Maritime Service which has led to our 600 workers (who are our members) being declared redundant without due recourse to the union for the negotiation of their terminal benefits

“Letters of termination/redundancy, we are informed had already been served on the workers.

“This unfair labour practice is not acceptable to us hence, I have been directed to issue your management with a 7 -day notice effective from date of this ultimatum, with which to withdraw all the letters of termination/redundancy served on the workers and recall them to duty, otherwise, we shall be compelled to withdraw our services from your terminal at the expiration of the notice.

“Meanwhile, we demand that status quo ante should remain pending when a management/union meeting is convened to negotiate their exit and payment of terminal benefits,” he stated.

The union however reminded the management that the welfare of the workers of the organisation has always been through negotiation even as it wonders why it would terminate appointment of workers without due consultation with the union.