The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), the umbrella body of seafarers union has reaffirmed its commitment towards ensuring better welfare packages for members in 2022.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) affiliate also urged the seafaring fraternity to work together in stirring the ship forward irrespective of the ranks, saying rating and officers play key role aboard vessels.
Bob Yousuo, National President of the Union who stated this in his New Year messages to stakeholders in the maritime industry on Monday, predicted that seafaring activities in the sub sector would witness tremendous changes in 2022.
Yousuo affirmed that the union will further strengthen its working relationship with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN in furtherance to better the lots of workers adding that seafarers are veritable components for shipping business.
On the widespread Omicron variant, he also called on seafarers to ensure that preventive and safety apparatus measures are put in place by ship owners against the background of the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We will continue to ensure that welfare of our members is paramount to us as a union because as a group of seafarers under the NMNOWTSSA we are commitment.
“We and our counterpart from the MWUN will continue to collaborate for the betterment of seafarers..
The seasoned seafarer, urged all officers both on board vessels and ashore to join the union which they rightly belong as enshrined in the trade unions Amendment act adding that “We must understand that any house that is divided against itself can not stand.
Speaking further, he noted that ” To defeat our common enemy, employers of labour that enslave seafarers, we must consciously and sincerely have a united front against our distractors.
“The union needs the seafarers and as well the seafarers need the union.We must understand that the union can’t work in isolation, thus lets embrace the union and in return, the union will ensure that seafarers Rights are not trampled upon by both the employers, manning agents and the regulatory agency NIMASA.
“The National Secretariat is open to us all for contributions, opinions as well as constructive criticism. Without CBA Some Companies are bent on slave wages.To serve you better, the union needs your understanding and cooperation. All hands must be on decks to make the industry a better place for us.
” It’s my humble prayers that God will protect and guard us as we sail round the world in 2022 and beyond. May this year be better than last year as I wish all seafarers a very prosperous NEW YEAR. Solidarity for ever,”he affirmed.
