The Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been directed by its parent body to commence picketing of Turkish Airlines in Lagos with effect from Tuesday, May 21, 2024, over the dismissal of seven members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).
In a letter dated May 15, 2024, with the title: “Notice of Picketing of Turkish Airlines in Lagos” and signed by the acting Secretary General of NLC, Chris Uyot, the labour union lamented that Turkish Airlines’ management in Lagos has continued its determined bid to exterminate the NUATE from the airline.
The union alleged that, in its latest onslaught, the management has dismissed seven out of eleven members of the union without benefits under trumped-up charges and using a disciplinary committee constituted outside the dictate of the prevailing Conditions of Service as negotiated with NUATE.
It added that Congress has become aware of the plans to get rid of the remaining four members to pave the way for the engagement of new employees, who would be compelled not to join the Union, or in the alternative to procure a GSA.
“By the above action of unjustifiable dismissal of their workers, the management of Turkish Airlines has put to waste ten to fourteen years of service. And this fate has befallen these hapless workers purely on account of exercising their constitutional right to belong to a trade union. Congress will not tolerate this situation
“Therefore, the Lagos State Council of NLC is hereby directed to commence picketing of Turkish Airlines in Lagos with effect from Tuesday 21st May 2024, until all staff of Turkish Airlines who have been sacked, dismissed, forced to abandon duty, or forced to resign under duress, including those victimised for their union membership in 2020, have been fully restored to their jobs without any losses of any kind.
“All affiliate unions in aviation are particularly charged to mobilise heavily for the picketing action without fail, please. Meanwhile, the FCT Council is to stand by in case there becomes a need to escalate the matter to Abuja airport,” the letter read in part.
