Union shuts down APM Terminals’ operations in Apapa over job loss threats to dockworkers

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Thursday carried out its threat of an industrial action against APM Terminals, Apapa, as members of the Union blocked both the entry and exit gates of the Terminal at about 8 am.

It would be recalled that the Union had issued a seven-day ultimatum, warning that the terminal should desist from denying local dockworkers an opportunity to work and earn their wages, by giving such jobs to foreigners.

Describing it as an act of anti-labour activities and racism, executives and members of the Union paraded placards with inscriptions as “We say no to racism”; “We say no to the scrapping of any department in our terminal.”

The Union accused the terminal of breaching the Nigerian Content law, which demands that Nigerians be first considered for jobs that they are qualified to handle.

The Union referred that the terminal has planed on outsourcing the security job to a foreign company, thus denying locals the opportunity to be employed in that capacity.

The Union said it would ensure that the terminal remained shut to operations until they reverse to what it used to be regarding the dockworkers engagement.

President General of the MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, told newsmen that the terminal actually admitted to engaging some foreigners in jobs that Nigerians were equally qualified to handle.