Maritime workers-Nigeria - Member of the Seafarers Branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Delta State chapter recently took over the premises of Ringardas Nigeria Limited, Sapele, protesting what they described as anti-labour practices by the management of the company against indigenous staff. The peaceful protesters, numbering over 200, who took over the premises of the company as early as 7.30am chanting anti labour songs, prevented staffers and customers from entering the premises, just as they declared that they would continue to occupy the entrance until their demands were met.

Our correspondent reports that scores of trailers that came to load from the jetty were seen parked by the roadside while staffers of the company and residents of the area were seen discussing how to avoid the ire of the protesters, who vowed to resist ant attempt to disperse them.

Addressing the crowd, chairman, Delta State chapter of the Maritime Workers Union, Goodlife Okoro, said they have exhausted every peaceful means to have the company fulfil the agreement between the two parties in 2009 when they staged a similar protest.

Okoro accused the management of Ringardas Nigeria Limited of violating the labour laws as they relate to the maritime industry, alleging that the company was bringing in foreigners to do the jobs that were meant for Nigerian seafarers.

He listed the agreement reached in 2009 to include, non-remittance of union dues to the union, giving out of maintenance jobs meant for seafarers to non-seafarers, importation of aliens to carry out job meant for seafarers, amongst others.

Okoro, who was visibly angry while addressing the protesters, said, "We are Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, the Seamen Branch. In 2009, we were here on industrial action like this. The purpose of that industrial action led to a communiqué between union and Ringardas Nigeria Limited. But it is surprising that between that time and now the union has made every effort to see that the agreement reached is implemented. The management of Ringardas has failed to implement the agreement reached."

"We are so surprised that the management has been relying on the support of some persons in government at the federal level, and they have tasked our patience beyond bound. For the past seven months now they have been bringing in aliens, people who are not Nigerians into this country illegally and do our job here, seafaring job. We have labour laws in this country and this particular company has been evading all maritime and labour laws of this country."

He said, "The Senegalese that are working in this yard are over 30, who were shipped in over one year now. They are not Nigerians but the jobs they are doing here are seafarers' job. We have capable hands that can do those jobs but they have been devising different methods to evade the law and we have said that labour is the power of this country."

While assuring that they will remain peaceful and continue to occupy the company's premises until their demands were met, appealed to both Federal and State Governments to enforce labour laws in this country.

Meanwhile, Olugbenga Robinson Adisa of the Legal Department of Ringardas Nigeria Limited has described all the allegations as spurious, unfounded and total falsehood, declaring that the action being embarked on by the union is illegal.

Reacting on behalf of the company, Adisa, a lawyer, said that the union members never gave management the opportunity to exhaust all avenues for dialogue before embarking on the action. He said the company has deductions made but that the crisis in the union has made it impossible for them to remit it to the union.

He also said that the Senegalese were brought into the country through legal means, reiterating that they did so because of the high charges by seafarers in Nigeria. He therefore added that management was ready for dialogue and sued for peace between the two bodies.

Sunday Apah

Daily Independent