MAJAN Roundtable : Dockworkers are trained professionals – Says Prince Adeyanju
MAJAN Roundtable :
Dockworkers are trained professionals – Says Prince Adeyanju
(Report by Ossy Onyenwezi)
The President- General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Prince Adewale Adeyanyu, has cleared the air on the issue of casualization of workers in the maritime industry.
He explained that the
issue of casualization concerning dock workers has been extensively addressed by the Union under his leadership.
He gave these details during interactive session with Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), in a Roundtable Talkshow, organised on Thursday, by the Association, at its secretariat in Apapa, Lagos.
According to him, “the anti-labour treatment given to dock workers before now was similar to that of orphans without any hope. But today, the Maritime Workers Union has totally remodelled the misrepresentation of dock workers.
“Currently, they are not only respected but also seen as worthy contributors to their growth of their industry and are now entitled for pension and other entitlements. The dock workers we have now are well trained professionals, who can compete with their counterparts internationally.”
The MWUN President General noted that the word casualization is like a ‘virus’ that must be removed from the system. He said casual workers have no hope and this is the case the Union has been tackling over there years. “Before now, the dockworkers had nothing like pension or gratuity. But with the new development in their favour, we can see peace in the port”, he emphasised.
Prince Adeyanju, who is also the Deputy National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), further gave the steps used in addressing the issue of casualization in the port system.
The high point of the occasion was award presentation, and Comrade Adeyanju was honoured as Maritime Labour Icon by MAJAN.
The President of MAJAN, Ray Ugochukwu, who presented the Award described Comrade Adeyanju as a reputable and committed union leader, who believes that there is dignity in Labour.
