The Maritime and Dockworkers’ Union( MDU) of TUC and the management of Kpone Marine Services Limited ( KMSL) have successfully negotiated a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the employees of the company.

Kpone Marine Services Limited is a key actor in the oil business in Ghana. The company has constructed two offshore mooring systems and pipelines for unloading and transportation of crude and refined petroleum products.

The company employs 60 workers and 45 of the employees are members of the Maritime and Dockworkers’ Union. The maiden CBA, which was signed on 29th August 2014, was negotiated within a 2-year period.

Speaking at the ceremony for the signing of the CBA, Mr Kwasi Amanor , the Deputy Managing Director of KMSL acknowledged that negotiating a maiden CBA with MDU was quite challenging.

“Though challenging, the negotiation with MDU has made us know the MDU better and helped us to understand the union’s values”, he said

Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, the General Secretary of MDU expressed happiness that the conclusion of the negotiation had strengthened the partnership between the union and management. According to him, the leadership of MDU is pursuing a wealth creation and wealth sharing agenda based on increased labour productivity and equitable distribution of benefits.

He asked management of KMSL and the Local Union to work together to implement the provisions in the CBA. “We have crossed the challenge of negotiating the CBA and we need a collective effort to ensure its implementation”, he said.

Kpone Marine Service Limited, which is a subsidiary of Puma Energy, handles 80% to 85% of Ghana’s petroleum imports.