Why Caverton must respect workers’ dignity-Unions

Except urgent truce is reached, workers of Caverton may be on a collision course with the management of the firm over labour issues.

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) stated that having waited most patiently maintaining peace and harmony despite provocation, intimidation and harassment in the past, most especially in the last five months for the management of Caverton Helicopters to respect the dignity of the labour of its employees, they are constrained to draw the management’s to the impending shutdown of operations.

In a swift reaction, the Managing Director of the airline, Josiah Choms told reporters that drop in oil price affected the decision they took that workers would have to take pay reduction.

“If the right thing to do is to shut down the company when they are doing their best to retain everybody, we wish them goodluck. We will now see who will suffer.”

His words, “One of our clients had seven aircraft, now they are flying three. We held a meeting and we explained to them. They made some demands which we acceded to. We have done the best we can in this economic downturn.”

He stated that the company tries as much as possible to explain the situation on ground to the unions.

“I do not understand the unions’ position and the threat that this represents. We have engaged the unions in the light of the global economic meltdown which is not specific to Caverton. Everybody in the world and in Nigeria are facing serious challenges, how our clients have requested for discount, some of them have dropped aircraft.”

 In the first letter written to the Group Chairman, dated March 10, 2016 and signed by NUATE Assistant Secretary-General, Olayinka Abioye the groups said they hasten to report the marginalisation, nepotism, discrimination, intimidation and executive recklessness being displayed and perpetrated on regular basis those saddled with the management of human and material resources of Caverton Helicopters in grave violation of the safety, security and sustainability of the enterprise and the very sensitive aviation industry.

Abioye disclosed that since September 2015, workers of the company are disheartened, saddened and unhappy to observe that their salaries were deliberately cut without recourse to them or their unions, in gross violation of applicable standards, adding that one James whose salary was N300, 000 in July 2015 was paid N100, 000 with effect from September 2015, losing N200, 000.

Same was said of one Mrs. Abigail who had a salary cut of N250, 000 leaving her with only N40, 000, while one Abdullahi had a salary cut of N150, 000, leaving him with only N50, 000 at the end of the month, whereas, one Mrs. Juliet had a salary increase from N200, 000 to N500, 000; Mrs. Angelina had a salary increase from N500, 000 to N1.2 million.

“In the same company where the above scenario occurred, we discovered that all members of staff who were in the departments where one of the benefitting officers operated enjoyed salary increases as compensation, except two who were seen as not belonging and or does not have godfather/godmother in Administration and Human Resources.”

He explained that consequent upon several letters they dispatched to the management on, “this anti labour disposition and timely manner, the Management went to our bases in Warri and Port-Harcourt, to reverse the salary cut only indigenes of the area due to pressure from the community elders of those places and still left some other staff behind, as they were said not to be sons of the soil, thereby creating a divide/bad blood among the workers which is inimical to safety and security.”

Abioye stated that operates in the sensitive aviation industry and serving sophisticated clients in the oil and gas industry, they cannot remain silent while the company cut corners and unwittingly compromise global standards by its unfair, unwholesome and anti-labour practices.

In another letter written by Abioye to the Managing Director/CEO of the airline, dated March 30, 2016, titled, “Final Notice of Industrial Action Against Caverton Helicopters”, the NUATE scribe warned that there shall be no further discussion on, ‘this fundamental issue as the unions have exhibited high sense of responsibility and maturity in getting the matter resolved.”

He further stated that the message serves as a final notice of industrial action, asking all Caverton Helicopters workers to note and be fully prepared.