Maritime Workers Fear Job Losses As Shipping Firm Acquires Terminal, Logistics Firm

There is palpable tension at the Tin-Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) and Bollore Transport and Logistics Nigeria Limited over recent acquisition by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

However, the Maritime Workers Union Nigeria (MWUN) expressed fear over the fate of the workers, saying the union had first written to both companies on September 14, 2022 to know the fate of its members but the companies management have since remained silent and failed to engage the union on the matter.

President general of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, lamented the continued refusal of TICT and Bollore to respond to enquiries by the union on the acquisition plan.

Consequently, the union has issued a seven- day ultimatum to both TICT and Bollore demanding to the know the fate of its members and the next line of action in the event of management change regarding the retention of their members jobs or payoff.

In a letter dated 14th November 2022 addressed to the management of both companies signed by Oniha Erazua on behalf of the Secretary General of MWUN, the union threatened that at the expiration of the sevenday notice, it will be forced to withdraw its services from the port if its demands are not met.

The union said this has become necessary in the face of rising agitation and restiveness in the un-clear effect of the aftermath of the acquisition on members job retention or outright payoff.

The letter titled Re- Important Announcement from Cyrille Bollore: Demand to Know the Fate of Our Members reads in part, “We are surprised that despite the very sensitive and germane matter the letter sought answer to, your management is yet to respond, thereby giving room to suspicion and negative speculations on the fate of our membersyour employers, at the end of the company’s acquisition process.