By Staff Reporter
After prolonged disputes and weeks of intense negotiations, Liberia’s stevedores have secured a significant breakthrough. On August 1, the Shipping and Stevedoring Association of Liberia (SSAL) and the United Seamen, Ports, and General Workers Union of Liberia (USGOGUL) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with APM Terminals, promising improved wages, enhanced working conditions, and stronger labor protections.
The agreement, formally ratified by the Ministry of Labor, applies specifically to stevedores operating under APM Terminals Liberia. It was signed in the presence of APM Terminals management and National Port Authority (NPA) Managing Director Sekou M. Dukuly, who played a central role in brokering the deal.
Wage Increases, Retroactive Pay, and Compensation
Under the terms of the MoU, APM Terminals will raise wages by US$4 per worker, per shift, and increase administrative fees by US$2 per worker, per shift to contracted stevedoring firms.
Importantly, the wage increase is retroactive to January 1, 2025, with all eligible stevedores set to receive back pay. Additionally, APM Terminals has agreed to fully reimburse stevedores for income lost during service disruptions between May 9 and June 10, and will restore previously withheld deductions.
“This agreement represents years of sacrifice and persistence,” said USGOGUL President Adam Sayon Washington. “Our members stood together and demanded fairness, and today, we’re seeing the results.”
Safer, More Structured Working Conditions
The MoU also establishes new labor protocols at APM Terminals to improve safety and efficiency. Stevedores will now operate in two structured 12-hour shifts daily, with two crane operators assigned per crane per shift. Each container and clinker vessel will be supported by two signal men, ensuring better coordination and worker safety on-site.
The agreement preserves the “food money” allowance established in the 2021–2023 collective bargaining agreement, and clearly states that no changes to the MoU will be valid unless agreed upon in writing by all parties.
Collective Bargaining Gets a Boost
The new MoU is built on the foundation of the Decent Work Act of 2015 and the March 25, 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between SSAL and USGOGUL. While the CBA covers all of Liberia’s ports, the MoU applies exclusively to operations under APM Terminals.
SSAL President Daniel F. Tolbert called the agreement a “milestone” for labor relations in Liberia’s port sector. “This deal not only addresses long-standing grievances but also ensures operational stability in the cargo sector.”
A Long Struggle for Recognition and Reform
Liberian stevedores have spent years battling poor working conditions, delayed wages, and inadequate recognition. The recent labor unrest in May and June further highlighted systemic issues, prompting the direct involvement of NPA’s Sekou M. Dukuly and the Ministry of Labor to push for a resolution.
“This agreement is more than just a labor contract-it’s a commitment to protecting livelihoods and ensuring the people powering Liberia’s ports are treated with dignity,” Dukuly emphasized.
Binding and Transparent
The MoU is valid for three years and is legally binding on all parties, including their successors and assigns. It explicitly states that there are no undisclosed terms or hidden conditions beyond what is written.
“This document contains the full agreement between the parties. No additional terms, obligations, or conditions exist beyond those outlined herein,” the agreement reads.
The signing of this MoU is expected to ease longstanding tensions at the Freeport of Monrovia and improve labor relations across the sector, offering both workers and port operators a renewed sense of stability after years of friction.
