Sea port workers threaten with strike against privatisation

The Alternative Workers' Union of the Sea Ports Corporation has given the federal minister of transport three days to stop the privatisation process of the southern port in Port Sudan, threatening with demonstrations by port workers.

The leader of the union, Osman Tahir, told Radio Dabanga that a meeting with all the union’s branches resulted in their demands on Thursday.

He accused federal Minister of Transport Mekawi Awad of reneging on his promises of submitting the studies to the union, before screening the tenders.

Tahir: “The union sees that what is going on in the southern port is a process to privatisation, despite the denial of the transport minister.

“We will resort to well-known union protests such as strikes and sit-ins that will completely paralyse the port, unless the minister retreats from his plan to displace the workers.”

Port workers have called upon the authorities not to separate the southern port from the administration of the corporation. Thousands of people work in the Sudanese ports and are at risk of losing their income in case of a take-over by foreign parties, leading union members stressed. One year ago the privatisation had already started by dismissing 400 temporary workers.

Thousands of people work in the Sudanese ports and are at risk of losing their income in case of a take-over by foreign parties, the union stressed. One year ago the privatisation started with this by dismissing 400 temporary workers.

On 8 January, Tahir was fined for disturbing a bidding event for foreign investors on the tender for the rent of the port.