Gbenro Adesina
Two Aviation Unions, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), on Monday, September 14, 2020, shut down the operations of Arik Air for allegedly owing its staff since April after placing 90 per cent of its workforce on compulsory leave and other anti-labour practices.
Scores of Arik Air passengers were stranded across airports in the country. The passengers, who were shocked that their schedules are been disrupted on a Monday morning, could not hide their displeasure as they were told to buy tickets from other airlines to travel because the airline staff were on strike.
Speaking on the industrial action, Secretary-General of NUATE, Comrade Ocheme Aba said they were protesting the ill-treatment of their members during the COVID-19 lockdown.
He said the management of Arik Air in a circular stated that only 20% of the staff would be needed during the lockdown with salary payments of 20% to those who would be at home and 50% to those on duty, unfortunately, till date they were yet to be paid.
The NUATE scribe also stressed that the condition of service for the staff had been a lingering issue which the Arik air management was yet to facilitate despite the union’s plea.
Arik Air management in a letter over the weekend addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment and copied the Aviation Ministry, the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) called for their quick intervention to avoid a shutdown of its operations.
However, the DG NCAA has called the warring parties to a meeting tomorrow to discuss their grievances aimed at resolving all vexed issues.
