US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1826

UNCLAS LAGOS 001826 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
STATE FOR USTDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ECON, NI 
SUBJECT: DOCKWORKERS STAND DOWN ON PLANNED STRIKE 
 
 
1. (SBU) Summary. The planned strike by dockworkers across 
Nigeria scheduled for December 1 was put on hold as GON and 
labor officials negotiated severance packages for over 6,000 
dockworkers expected to be laid off as part of the GON's 
ports concessioning exercise. After a November 30 
stakeholders' meeting chaired by the Finance Minister, the 
GON conceded that dockworkers should be paid severance 
benefits. Maritime Workers Union President Irabor said all 
planned strikes are suspended until after December 9 when the 
Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and GON reconvene to finalize 
dockworkers' severance packages. End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The dockworkers branch of the Maritime Workers Union 
of Nigeria (MWUN) had threatened to shut down various ports 
to protest the GON's refusal of their demand for severance 
benefits.  The Union request totals naira 4 billion (USD 30.8 
million); about naira 580,000 (USD 4,462) per retrenched 
worker, Nigerian media reported. MWUN President Onikolaese 
Irabor told us December 2 the naira 4 billion figure reported 
by the media was inaccurate, and that their organization had 
demanded a much higher severance package, but that he could 
not reveal the true figure because the NLC was still 
negotiating this with the GON. However, he did concur with 
media reports that dockworkers had planned to frustrate port 
concessionaires' smooth takeover of the ports, if the GON did 
not meet their demands. 
 
3. (SBU) Irabor said that in a November 30 Abuja meeting, the 
Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) raised serious concerns over 
dockworker severance packages with representatives of the 
ministries of finance, labor, transport, and defense. He said 
the MWUN was "satisfied" with the results of the November 30 
meeting, but that not all financial and legal matters were 
concluded. He hoped severance package issues would be 
resolved during their follow-up meeting with the GON on 
Friday, December 9. 
 
4. (SBU) Comment: Senior members of the NLC pledged that no 
strikes would occur and no ports would be shut down. There is 
no reason to believe that a strike would occur unless the 
December 9 negotiations break down. Irabor seemed content 
with the discussions the NLC had with various GON ministries 
regarding severance packages, although he would not discuss 
concrete figures. When pressed, he told us privately that 
naira 600,000 (USD 4,615) per retrenched worker would be 
"fair", although he qualified it by stating it would depend 
upon work experience and position. End Comment. 
BROWNE