The operational activities of Intels Nigeria Limited were shutdown by over 600 dockworkers at the Onne seaport over the disengagement of workers.
The workers closed the entry gate of the concessionaire, grounding the operational activities on Wednesday.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria had in November 2020, served a seven–day warning notice to the management of Intels Nigeria, to reinstate 600 of its staff who were recently disengaged from their jobs.
The management of Intels, Association of Maritime Service, a subsidiary of Intels and the union, had earlier fixed October 22, 2020, to mediate the labour dispute but was stalled by the #EndSARS protest by Nigerian youths.
Against the backdrop of the development, President-General, MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, confirmed the situation at Onne port.
He expressed shock on the sudden U-turn by the terminal operator to disengage the workers after meeting with the union.
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Adeyanju recalled that the union had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the concessionaire and its consultant, Associates Maritime Service had agreed to resolve the issues bothering on workers welfare package, which resulted in the re-engagement of the workers.
He said, “The workers have every right to take destiny into their hands by shutting down the terminal because we met with them just last month and they agreed to recall the workers which they did.
“Management of the Intels are calling as we speak but I want that action to continue at Onne port,” he explained.
Adeyanju said it had become necessary that the union support the workers in the fight for their welfare since Intels had refused to prevail on its subsidiary to implement the agreement it had with the union during their earlier negotiation.
