BUSHROD ISLAND, Monrovia – After weeks of tense negotiations and years of back-and-forth disputes, Liberia’s stevedores have won a significant victory. 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) on August 1, ushering in long-awaited wage increases, improved working conditions, and stronger guarantees for port workers.
The deal, formally approved by the Ministry of Labor, carries immediate benefits for stevedores working 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 helped broker the breakthrough.
Wages, Benefits, and Back Pay
Under the MoU, APM Terminals will increase wages by US$4 per head, per shift for stevedores, and raise administrative fees by US$2 per head, per shift for contracted stevedoring companies.
Significantly, the agreement ensures retroactive payment of the wage increases dating back to January 1, 2025. Stevedores who lost income during the May 9 to June 10 service disruptions will also be reimbursed in full, with APMT committing to restore deductions previously taken.
“This agreement represents years of sacrifice and persistence,” said USGOGUL President Adam Sayon Washington. “Our workers have stood together to demand fair treatment, and today we see the results of that unity.”
Improved Working Conditions
The MoU sets new operational standards at APM Terminals. Stevedores will now work two 12-hour shifts daily, ensuring better structure in labor allocation. Each crane will be staffed by two operators per shift, while container and clinker vessels will have two signal men assigned, improving safety and efficiency.
The agreement also maintains the “food money” rates established in the 2021–2023 collective bargaining agreement, while warning that no amendments to the deal will be valid unless in writing and signed by all parties.
Collective Bargaining Strengthened
The deal is rooted in the Decent Work Act of 2015 and builds upon the March 25, 2025, Collective Bargaining Agreement between SSAL and USGOGUL. While that CBA governs all ports in Liberia, the new MoU applies exclusively to APM Terminals operations.
SSAL President Daniel F. Tolbert hailed the deal as a “milestone” for industrial relations in Liberia’s port sector, noting that it not only addresses workers’ grievances but also ensures stability in cargo operations.
A Hard-Won Victory
The negotiations were not without difficulty. For years, Liberia’s stevedores have clashed with management over unpaid wages, poor conditions, and lack of recognition. Disruptions in May and June underscored the urgency of reform, leading to direct intervention by NPA’s Dukuly and heightened government involvement.
“This is more than a labor deal—it’s about protecting livelihoods and ensuring that the men and women who drive Liberia’s shipping sector are treated with fairness and dignity,” Dukuly emphasized.
Binding Agreement
The MoU, enforceable for three years, is binding upon all parties, their successors, and assigns. It explicitly declares that no hidden or additional terms exist outside of what is written.
“This document represents the entire agreement between the parties, and there are no additional terms, obligations, covenants, or conditions beyond those stated herein,” the MoU concludes.
This landmark agreement is expected to ease tensions at the Freeport of Monrovia and strengthen Liberia’s port operations, providing both workers and companies with greater certainty after years of instability.
