…Over wages, staff layoffs
Operations of Arik Air were on Monday disrupted by the aviation unions over alleged non-payment of staff salaries since April after placing 90 per cent of the workforce on compulsory leave and other anti-labour practices.
The unions include the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).
All Arik Air operations were shut down while passengers expressed reservations.
Chairman of ATSSSAN, Arik Air chapter, Mr. Innocent Atasie, said the workers resolved to shut down Arik operations nationwide when all efforts made to resolve the issues failed.
Atasie said the unions are miffed that there had been no payment of staff salaries since April after placing 90 per cent of the workforce on compulsory leave.
The unions said the strike would continue indefinitely, until their demands are met by the management of Arik Air.
Their demands included payment of salaries arrears, signing of Conditions of Service, remittance of Pension, Tax, and statutory deductions to the appropriate authorities and to resolve other anti-labour issues.
Others are payment of salary arrears of seven months, with a commitment to pay salaries as at when due, henceforth.
Atasie said the unions also want the immediate review of all employee remunerations which has remained stagnant since the inception of Arik Air, over ten years ago.
He said the unions decided to shut down all operations nationwide when all efforts by the unions were aborted.
On September 13, the management of Arik Air asked for the intervention of the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, over the planned industrial action by unions scheduled to commence on September 14.
The Chief Executive Officer of Arik, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, made the appeal in a letter to the minister titled: ‘Re-Unions in Arik Air threaten to down tools’.
Stranded Arik Air passengers at the local terminals in Lagos expressed disappointment over the airline’s shutdown without informing the passengers.
A passenger, Mr. Julius Anifowoshe, said: “l was shocked when l came to the airport at about 6.30a.m., to board and found out that the airline workers are on strike without due notification.
“I am forced to buy another ticket from another airline to meet up with my appointment in Abuja.
“Government should sanction Arik Air for not reaching out through text messages or e-mail to customers on the planned strike.
“I am going to seek refund of my money whenever I’m back to Lagos. Arik Air took customers for granted,” he said.
Another passenger, Mrs. Beatrice Ikechukwu, expressed disappointment over sudden shut down of the operations without due notice to passengers.
Ikechukwu said: “I have to source for money to buy another ticket for what I did not plan.
“rik Air operational system is porous, nobody came to address passengers on what was happening. This is really pathetic and disheartening,” she said.
However, the Communications Manager of Arik Air, Mr Adebanji Ola, said that the management has scheduled a meeting with the unions on September 15, to resolve all matters.
– NAN