Aviation Strike: TUC warns of fresh action if issues persist

Following the suspension of the industrial action embarked upon by the aviation workers under the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, has warned that the unions could return to the trenches if the issues were not resolved.

The unions have suspended their industrial action over the alleged refusal of some airlines to allow workers to unionise and the non-remittance of about N25 billion in five per cent ticket charges.

Speaking at a luncheon with members of the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN) organised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, Osifo said the strike was suspended to allow ongoing interventions by the Federal Government and other stakeholders.

Osifo, who doubles as President of PENGASSAN, however, stressed that the development should not be interpreted as a permanent resolution of the dispute.

According to him, labour had received several calls from stakeholders seeking to intervene after aviation workers commenced the industrial action.

While noting that the unions decided to give the interventions an opportunity, Osifo insisted that the underlying issues responsible for the strike must be addressed, adding that labour had made it clear to those intervening that the objective should not simply be to persuade the workers to suspend or call off the strike.

He said: “It’s not just to say call off the strike, but we need to solve the issues. We can’t have a company that will not want people to unionise. It is totally wrong.”

Osifo noted that the labour centre fully supported the workers’ action, insisting that the issues at stake were fundamental to the rights and welfare of aviation workers.

The labour leader particularly faulted attempts by employers to prevent workers from joining trade unions, describing such a practice as unacceptable, even as he maintained that Nigerian laws and relevant International Labour Organisation conventions guaranteed workers the right to organise and belong to trade unions.

Osifo, who alleged that some aviation workers were reluctant to join unions because of fears that they could lose their jobs, argued that workers generally stood a better chance of protecting their jobs and negotiating improved remuneration when they belonged to unions.

“We can’t have a company that will not want people to unionise. It is totally wrong. Who truly doesn’t want to be a member of the union? Because you know very well that being in the union, your job is much more protected and your remuneration will be much more enhanced.”

Osifo also raised concern over the alleged failure to remit about N25 billion in five per cent ticket charges meant for the workers.

He said labour would continue to engage the relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure that the outstanding funds were remitted.

Osifo warned that any attempt to merely placate the unions without resolving the substantive issues could lead to another round of industrial action.

He urged employers in the aviation industry to respect workers’ freedom of association and allow employees to organise without fear of victimisation, as he affirmed that the labour movement would continue to work with government and other stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the dispute.

Wole Shadare