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Protesting aviation unions who shut down Arik Air operations on Tuesday have called off their industrial action.
VC Ezems gathered that the decision followed an intervention by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The unions had embarked on the joint strike following the airline’s
failure to pay seven months’ salary arrears and other alleged
anti-labour practices.
They had on Tuesday shut down Arik Air’s flight operations at both
the local and international wings of the Murtala Muhammed Airport,
Lagos.
They also barricaded the airline’s corporate headquarters within the
airport premises. While speaking to journalists, the aviation unions had
vowed to continue their protest until the issues raised were addressed.
A representative of the United Labour Congress of Nigeria who spoke
on behalf of the electricity union, Olusegun Babatunde, had said that
the unions would continue to ground the airlines operations until the
issues raised are addressed.
Mr. Babatunde argued that workers should be treated with dignity and
should not be enslaved. He also said that the protest would serve as
signal to other organisations who do not take care of workers’ welfare.
“The struggle continues. We are here today; we will be here tomorrow
and the day after tomorrow until the issues are addressed and resolved.
“Workers are not slaves and should not be enslaved. Victory is assured,” he had said.
The General Secretary of NUATE, Olayinka Abioye, had also vowed that
the airline would be grounded until its operators address the grievances
raised by the aggrieved workers. He also advised Arik Air’s passengers to seek alternative by boarding other airlines.
“I advise passengers of Arik air to seek alternative elsewhere. Go
and board other airlines. We will be here until further notice,” he
said.
However, according to a communique signed by the leadership of the
unions on Tuesday, Arik Air management and a representative of the NCAA,
the unions agreed to call off the strike after exhaustive deliberations with the management of Arik Air and the NCAA.
The communique was signed by Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary,
National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Frances Akinjole,
General Secretary, Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).
Others are the General Secretary of the National Association of
Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Aba Ocheme, Deputy Managing
Director, Arik Air, Ado Sanusi and Sidi Abdullahi of the NCAA.
The communique said that Arik Air, at the meeting, agreed to pay the
outstanding October salaries on or before December 23, while that of
November would be paid on or before December 31.
“The unions are to submit the acknowledged copies of the letters
forwarding membership forms of their prospective members to the NCAA and
NCAA shall forward same to the management of Arik Air to do the
needful.
“A committee to review the circumstances of all laid-off employees,
made up of one member from each union and Arik Air, was constituted, to
be inaugurated on Jan. 10, 2017.
“The Hawker fleet employees are exempted from the review,” the communique said.
It added that parties resolved that Arik Air should resume operations
forthwith upon signing the communique and that no individual should be
victimised as a consequence of the industrial action.
The communique, however, did not address the issue of seven months’
salary arrears staff of the airline said they were being owed.
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