Labor Congress position on the current strife in the Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union over delegate conference

The Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union was due to hold its Quinquennial Delegates Conference on the 9^th November, 2013. The conference was forestalled due to contentions by some members who wished to vie for the position of the President of the union.

The strife necessitated the immediate intervention of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Sierra Leone Labor Congress and the Sierra Leone Police as some supporters of the vying candidates resorted to measures that disrupted the peace and stability within the vicinity of the union office.

Meetings were convened in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Sierra Leone Labour Congress with the vying Presidential aspirants with the principal aim of putting modalities in place for the conduct of a peaceful delegates conference for the Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union.

The Sierra Leone Labour Congress as a umbrella organization of all trade unions to which the Dockworkers Union is affiliated, wishes to make its position clear for the conduct of the delegates conference for Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union as follows:

1. That the current legitimate constitution shall be used to regulate the conduct of the forthcoming delegates conference of the Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union as provided by Rule 21(1) of the Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union constitution: “These rules shall only be altered, amended, rescinded or cancelled and new rules made by a two third majority vote at the quinquennial conference, subject to the approval of the Registrar of Trade Unions”
2. That Mr. Kekura Kagbo cannot vie any position in the forthcoming Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union delegates conference as he has not satisfied Rule (19) of the Sierra Leone Dockworker Union constitution which provides thus:  “Any person wishing to contest for any position must be a worker of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority and a fully paid up member of the union.”
3. That all contestants for positions at the delegates conference should first and foremost be delegates to the conference as per Rule 5 (1)(a)&(b) of the Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union constitution.
4. That both Abdul Rahman Denton and Alpha S Bundu (Presidential aspirants) can vie for any position in the forthcoming Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union delegates conference provided they meet the requirements established in Rule 19 (5) of the Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union constitution
5. That the Delegates Conference of the Sierra Leone Dockworkers Union be held on 6^th December, 2013 under the close assistance of the Ministry of Labour and Social security and the Sierra Leone Labour Congress. And the Sierra Leone Police is requested to provide security on the day of the delegates conference.
6. That the current executive of the union should put all modalities in place for the peaceful conduct of the delegates conference.
7. That the Sierra Leone Labour Congress respects all fundamental laws and principles enshrined in the National Constitution of the Republic of Sierra Leone as well as ratified conventions of the International Labour Organization that guide the conduct of trade unions.

Mohamed A. Deen-GOOR

President    Sierra Leone Labour Congress 

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