NLC issues ultimatum, sets to ground Air Peace, Bristow over sack of 170 workers

**Airlines’ actions wicked, callous-Waba

 

 

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned and rejected the recent sack of 69 pilots by Air Peace, 100 pilots by Bristow Helicopters and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) executives working with Turkish Air.

A statement made available to Woleshadarenews and signed by NLC President, Ayuba Waba described the sack by the airlines as ‘highly insensitive, callous and unjust’.

The NLC called on the management of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all the sacked workers within two weeks.

He noted that as agreed between labour and employers’ association, social dialogue should be used to resolve industrial concerns instead of the current resort to unilateralism.

“We will not hesitate to mobilize the weight of the entire Nigerian workforce to the premises of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters if our demands are not met.

He stated that it was very traumatic for workers who are still reeling from psychological and socio-economic difficulties imposed by the recent lock-down measures.

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He noted that while just savoring the joy of being able to work again, it was wicked by the airlines to slam them with sack letters.

His words, “The sack of Air Turkish, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters workers is highly insensitive, callous, and unjust. The unilateral sack of executive members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) working with Turkish Airline is particularly distressing”.

“These workers were sacked for fighting for the rights of Nigerian workers in Turkish Air. This is very reprehensible. We wish to remind Turkish Air that unionized workers cannot be punished or sacked for participating in trade union activities”.

“This action is aimed at frustrating unionization in Turkish Air and to enslave Nigerians working with Turkish Air. The anti- labour practices in Turkish Air constitute fundamental infractions on our Constitution and labour laws and a gross disrespect to Nigeria”.

He emphasized that section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of association including the right to join and participate in the activities of trade unions.

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NLC President, Ayuba Waba

 

 

“Furthermore Section 12 sub section 14 of Nigeria’s Trade Union (Amendment) Act 2005 provides for voluntary membership of trade unions and stipulates that no worker should be victimized for joining a trade union or participating in the activities of a trade union. We posit that the sack of NUATE executives working
with Turkish Air violates their human and trade union rights”.

On the sacked pilots and other categories of workers by Air Peace, he carpeted the management of Air Peace for exploiting the atmosphere atmosphere of industrial tyranny in Air Peace which forbids workers from joining trade unions to strike this fatal blow on the livelihood and career of the sacked workers.

He warned that the absence of unions in Air Peace will not stop NLC from fighting for the rights of the sacked workers, warning that they will fight for the re-instatement of the sacked workers and for workers’ unionization in Air Peace.

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“We deplore the offering of poor workers as the sacrificial lambs by unscrupulous business owners. During the good times, workers were the hands that created the profit and wealth.

“During bad times, we expect businesses to repay the faith and commitment of the workforce. As was done to the financial sector, we urge government to immediately release palliative support to the aviation industry”.

“Clearly, we have a bumpy road ahead of us as the nation and the world recovers from the fallout of Covid-19. Workers are ready to play their part towards the restoration of full productivity and industrial normalcy but that can only be achieved in an atmosphere of mutual respect and sensitivity. Nothing else would suffice”.

Wole Shadare