Aviation unions call off industrial action against airline

chika ebuzor

December 20, 2016 7:35 PM

This was made known in a communique signed by the leadership of the unions, Arik Air management and NCAA representatives.

An Arik Air plane

Aviation unions have called of their industrial action against Arik Air following an intervention by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

This was made known in a communique signed by the leadership of the unions, Arik Air management and a representative of the NCAA.

The communique was signed by Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Mr Frances Akinjole, General Secretary, Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).

It was also signed by the General Secretary of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Mr Aba Ocheme, Deputy Managing Director, Arik Air, Capt. Ado Sanusi and Capt. Sidi Abdullahi of the NCAA.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 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 earlier on Tuesday shut down Arik Air’s flight operations at both the local and international wings of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and also barricaded the airline’s corporate headquarters within the airport premises

However, the communique said the unions agreed to call off the strike after exhaustive deliberations with the management of Arik Air and the NCAA.

It said that Arik Air, at the meeting, agreed to pay the outstanding October salaries on or before Dec .23, while that of November would be paid on or before Dec. 31.

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“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.

chika ebuzor