Ebun Francis
Three aviation unions, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers(NAAPE) on Tuesday grounded the operations of Arik Air Nigeria, both at the local and International wings of the nations airports, leaving in its trail loads of stranded passengers.
The unions which had earlier in the week threatened to go on strike following the airlines inability to address some of the unions demands, made good its threat by calling out its workers on strike. Some of their grievances and demands include- the airline’s failure to pay seven months salary arrears and refusal to alter its anti-labour practices, the immediate reinstatement of five of the airline’s employees who were sacked for their involvement in unionism. unionisation of its employees, in compliance with extant labour laws and with respect to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They also demanded the recall of all sacked employees who have been victimised for their roles in the effort to bring about unionisation in Arik Air as well as immediate review of all employee remunerations which had remained the same since the inception of Arik Air, over ten years ago, amongst others.
The unions vowed to continue the industrial action indefinitely until their demands are met by the management of Arik Air.
Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, informed the striking workers that the unions decided to ground Arik Air for safety reasons.
According to Abioye, “Arik Air has refused to pay workers salaries for seven months and we know that a disgruntled worker is an accident waiting to happen.
“The airline has been defaulting in taxes and other statutory deductions from workers remunerations.
“The management has refused to allow total unionisation of its employees, in compliance with extant labour laws and with respect to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Also speaking, Mr Frances Akinjole, General Secretary, ATSSSAN, said the unions were prepared to embark on the strike for as long as possible.
“Things cannot be business as usual for Arik. A pilot who is disgruntled can crash an aircraft deliberately. An engineer who is being owed salaries can sabotage the aircraft.
“So we need to ground Arik Air until the management shows that they are responsible,” Akinjole added.
The strike left many stranded passengers confused as many of them bought their tickets ahead of the date of their scheduled trip. One of the passengers, Ms Tomisin Olukare, told the News Agency Of Nigeria that she bought a one-way ticket from Lagos to Abuja at N42, 000 three days ago.
“I came this morning and there is nobody to attend to me and my flight is supposed to leave by 10:00 a.m., so I am really confused,” she said.
Another passenger, Mrs Chika Emmanuel, said an agent assisted her in buying an Air Peace ticket for Abuja immediately she sensed that there was going to be a disruption on Arik Air operations.
Emmanuel said she would be demanding for a refund of her ticket from Arik Air when she returns from her trip.