Strike: Aviation union urges Arik to respect resolutions

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Friday urged the management of Arik Air to respect the resolutions by parties which led to the suspension of the strike embarked on by the unions on Thursday.

Mr Olayinka Abioye, the General Secretary, NUATE, disclosed this in an interview with Newsverge on Friday in Lagos.

Newsverge reports that the unions in the sector had shut down the operations of Arik Air on Thursday but had to suspend the strike following the intervention of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The other unions which joined NUATE in the strike were the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

Abioye said : “We are hoping that the management of Arik Air will do the needful by respecting the rights of the workers in its employment to join any unions of their choices without any coercion or whatsoever.

“We also believe that other related fundamental matters regarding the growth and welfare of workers will be assented to by the management of Arik Air,“he said.

He said that the unions suspended the strike after a meeting with the NCAA and the Department of State Services (DSS).

“As I speak with you, I want to believe Arik Air has resumed its operations because the matters that brought about the industrial action on Thursday had been discussed extensively and a communique issued based on the resolutions,” he said.

Abioye said the airline promised to look into the issues raised by the unions, especially, allowing its workers to join any union of their choice.

“Nigerians are also aware that four members in the executive of two unions working with Arik Air were victimised by disengaging them from the service of the company over their involvement in trade union activities.

“The law says that no worker shall be penalised for participation in union activities.

“The management has also promised to reinstate the sacked workers, hence, Arik Air has been given a clean bill of health to go ahead with their business,” he said.

Abioye also said that the unions had given its full support to the ongoing efforts by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to revamp Arik Air for the benefits of the workers, the airline and the country at large.