Unions shut Arik, passengers stranded

Aviation unions carried out their threat as they have shut Arik Air operations for allegedly owing its workers several months’ salary arrears

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) as early as 7am barred workers from gaining access into the airline’s offices and disrupted operations of the airlines leading to stranding of passengers.

This action has taken a toll on the airline and travelers booked on the airline and others that were scheduled to travel with the carrier today.

Staff of the airline and executives of the National Union of Air Transport Employees NUATE, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, protested in front of the GAT One terminal and later proceeded to the headquarters of the airline where they blocked the entrance gate.

Secretary General, NUATE, Ocheme Aba said they were protesting the ill-treatment of their members during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“Management of Arik air in a circular informed the staff that only 20 percent would be needed during the lockdown with salary payments of 20 percent to those who would be at home and 50 percent to those on duty unfortunately till date they were yet to be paid”, he said.

The condition of service for staff has been a lingering issue which the Arik air management.

“Workers have no conditions of Service at all not, even a review”, he said

Arik Air Management in a letter over the weekend addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment and copied the Aviation ministry, as well as the Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, called for quick intervention to avoid a shut down of its operations.

The Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu had called on the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika to intervene in the planned industrial action by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) slated for Monday, September 14, 2020.

The two unions had promised to call Arik Air workers out on a strike over alleged non payment of staff salaries in the airline since April after placing 90% of the workforce on compulsory leave.

In a letter to the minister by the Chief Executive Officer of Arik, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, entitled, “Re-Unions in Arik Air threaten to down tools September 14^th”,  dated September 11, 2020, Ilegbodu stated that the threat of strike action is coming without an exhaustive use of the various channels of engagement, discussion, consensus and understanding which he described as  faulty and unlikely to yield the best outcomes for staff, the company and its faithful passengers.

He further described the action of the unions as an abuse of the position of union leadership, saying the  issues in dispute cannot pass the test of fairness and only affect, in the short term, less than 20 staff out of a work force of over 1600.

He explained that prior to Arik Air Ltd going into receivership, the employment letters basically detailed the approved emoluments of staff, adding that since the commencement of the receivership, this has been expanded by the introduction of policies to create best practice work environments to deliver top notch services.

He noted that management had been in discussion with various staff groups and unions to have these policies codified into Staff Conditions of Service and have a share of mind on most issues.

According to the letter sighted by Woleshadarenews, the only outstanding area of difference, he reiterated was the request by the unions for a terminal benefit scheme over and above the requirements of the Pension Act.

“They request for an independent retirement benefit scheme that will be wholly funded by the airline where retiring, resigning and terminated staff will receive a lump sum payment upon exit that will in some cases double the joint contribution of management and staff under the Pension Act of 2004 as amended.”

Wole Shadare