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

KMSL is a key actor in the oil business in Ghana. It has constructed two offshore mooring systems and pipelines for the unloading and transportation of crude and refined petroleum products.

It employs 60 workers, 45 of whom are members MDU. The maiden CBA, which too two years to negotiate, was signed on August 29.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Kwasi Amanor, Deputy Managing Director of KMSL, said the negotiations were rather challenging and enabled management to appreciate the intricacies involved in dealing with unions.

Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, General Secretary of MDU, said the conclusion of the negotiations had strengthened the partnership between the Union and the Management, adding that the leadership of MDU was pursuing a wealth-creation and wealth-sharing agenda based on increased labour productivity and equitable distribution of benefits.

He appealed to the Management 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.

KMSL, which is a subsidiary of Puma Energy, handles 80% to 85% of Ghana’s petroleum imports.