-In New Collective Bargaining Agreement
By: G. Bennie Bravo Johnson
The Stevedores Section of the United Seamen Ports and General Workers Union of Liberia (USPOGUL) has put forth a series of demands in its proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Shipping and Stevedoring Association of Liberia (SSAL). A key demand is the reduction of the current 12-hour work shift to a maximum of eight hours.
At the opening of the CBA negotiations on Friday, November 22, 2024, in Monrovia, USPOGUL President Adam Washington emphasized that transitioning to an eight-hour shift would significantly reduce the risk of health issues among workers, including ailments related to back strain and reproductive health, as well as mitigate the effects of premature aging.
Washington revealed that the proposed CBA has already been submitted to APM Terminals following consultations with the union’s 1,500 members. “We are demanding a US$10 wage increase for all unionized stevedore positions,” he stated, noting that there has been no wage increment in the past three years, despite APM Terminals Liberia consistently raising its handling charges.
He stressed the need for a unified wage rate across all ports in Liberia, regardless of whether workers are employed by APM Terminals or the National Port Authority (NPA). “When we go to the market, there is no difference when we are buying fish or rice,” he remarked.
Washington also addressed the issue of delayed payments to workers after they complete their tasks. To prevent situations where workers often find themselves borrowing against their wages, he proposed that payments should be made within three working days of completing all vessel operations.
“This CBA is crucial as it will provide an objective framework for making informed decisions that benefit our workers and enhance our values,” Washington stated. He highlighted that the agreement encompasses not only wage increases but also improvements in working conditions.
Typically, the Union’s CBAs span two years; however, Washington pointed out that the SSAL’s contract with APM Terminals Liberia, which lasts three years, has adversely affected their negotiations for the past year and a half.
Supporting Washington’s position, USPOGUL President General Freeman Trokon Gueh asserted that the Union cannot sign a contract with SSAL if the latter engages in agreements with external parties that fall outside their scope. “In cases of accidents or provisions of food for workers, vessel agents have distanced themselves from their responsibilities. This cannot continue,” Gueh emphasized.
In response, SSAL President Daniel Tolbert welcomed the Union’s initiatives, stating that they are in the best interest of all parties involved. He pledged his institution’s commitment to the full implementation of the CBA, affirming, “This is a positive step, and you have our 100 percent support.”
Tolbert noted that necessary negotiations between the parties would be facilitated through stakeholder engagement meetings, ensuring that workers’ interests remain protected. “It is reassuring that the Liberian government, through the Ministry of Labor, is represented and monitoring this event. The ministry’s urgent assistance to make this effective cannot be overstated,” he added.
Assistant Minister for Trade Union Affairs at the Ministry of Labor, Rufus T. Saylee, commended both parties for prioritizing the welfare of hundreds of Liberians employed on vessels to support their families. He encouraged USPOGUL’s leadership to effectively utilize the Decent Work Act of 2015 and Liberia’s Labor Law.
“We are ready to provide you with the necessary support. I acknowledge receipt of your concerns and will share them with Minister Kruah,” Saylee promised, urging the leadership to formalize their concerns in a written communication to be filed with the Ministry of Labor.
The event also saw the attendance of Elijah D. Nyenkan, Secretary General of USPOGUL; Finda Fallah, Women’s Chair of USPOGUL; and Adama Kamara, Treasurer of SSAL, among other notable figures.
