The Junior and Senior Local Unions of the Maritime and Dockworkers’ Union (MDU) have cautioned the Port, Seamen, Maritime and Dockers’ Union (PSMDU) to desist from attacks against its members.

In a joint press statement by the two unions, they are calling on the management of the Tema Shipyard and Drydock Limited to “investigate the threats and warnings” they claim was contained in a statement from PSMDU against Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, the General Secretary of the MDU.

The statement issued May 8 bearing the signatures of Fuseini Shahamu-Deen, Chairman of the Senior Staff Union, and Patrick Kwame Attikey, Vice-chairman of the Junior Staff Union of the MDU, condemned what they said was a recent attack on Mr Owusu-Koranteng, describing it as “baseless and part of the tactics to use fabrications, lies and intimidation which are the tools they [PSMDU] have used all along to advance their selfish interest”.

The statement said members of the MDU have received threats because of their refusal to join the PSMDU.

According to the leaders, the PSMDU has “no legal mandate to represent workers” as the Collective Bargaining Certificate (CBC) possessed by the PSMDU has been revoked.

The leaders explained that their preference was the MDU which is under the umbrella of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) hence the leadership of the PSMDU should desist from harassing its members.