The Ministry of Labour has intervened and broken the impasse that has stalled the renegotiations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Management of the APM Terminals and port workers under the leadership of ‘Dock Workers Union of Liberia (DOWUL), Locals#1 and #2,’respectively.
A release issued on Sunday, September 28, 2025, disclosed that the longstanding impasse over the renegotiations of the three-year CBA between DOWUL, the union representing 248 port workers, and APM Terminals Management, claimed the attention of Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr.
In a move aimed at censuring uninterrupted industrial and economic activities at “the Gateway to Liberia’s Economy,” Labour Minister Kruah is quoted by the release as urging officials of both parties to the ongoing renegotiations of the CBA to exercise ‘ maximum flexibility in the spirit of industrial harmony’ in reaching an amicable resolution to the few key points of contention remaining to seal the CBA this week.
These include: allowing the Secretary General and President General of the union to serve full time on union activities, without performing management functions except needed, in extreme circumstances. The other issues of contention being discussed under the direct supervision of the Labour boss include benefits for retired workers, financial benefits in lieu of tenure of service and extra motivational appreciation packages for long term serving workers, as being done by other investment concessions companies in the country.
Addressing officials of the both groups when he presided over a daylong social dialogue aimed at resolving the differences, Minister Kruah indicated the extreme sensitivity government attached to the smooth operations of ports across the country, the investment interests of APM Terminals Management, and most of all, the social and economic wellbeing of Liberian workers whom he said, deserved to benefit from their labour and professional expertise, especially after retirement.
He called on the Union’s negotiating team to be meticulous and realistic in making demands on behalf of the workers, keeping in mind that the viability of the port is essential to the sustainability of the welfare of workers and national interest.
Minister Kruah further cautioned APM Terminals management to consider the workers as ‘partners in progress’, treat their concerns with urgency, exercise flexibility and liberal approach in addressing key elements contained in the CBA under renegotiations. He further re-echoed President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s ‘ARREST Agenda which is aligned with Government National Development priorities coined in ‘ The Agenda for All Inclusive Development (AAID), with human capacity building and job creation as core values.
In separate remarks, two officials of APM Terminals Senior Management Team Mr. Emeke Ogbaje and Madam Jean Honnah Thompson, lauded Minister Kruah for his intervention and assured him of unflinching cooperation in successfully concluding the renegotiated CBA within the time frame.
For their parts, DOWUL Officials, Okasa Sanor, Vice President for Operations, Emmanuel Gweh, President-General, thanked Minister Kruah for his swift intervention to ensure a successful conclusion of the process. They assured that their workers will continue smooth industrial activities during the entire duration of the renegotiations of the CBA, describing the Freeport and local ports as ‘strategic national assets.’
