Air Nigeria's Operations Grounded As Pilots, Engineers Down Tools

Accuses Air Nigeria's management of:

by Lateef Lawal

(WireNews+Co) - Lagos, Nigeria - 02 June 2012

* Delayed salaries of both local and foreign staff;

* Pension deduction not remitted for over seven (7) months;

* Tax refund and tax clearance issues;

* Co-operative deductions not yet remitted;

Several passengers were stranded yesterday in Lagos as Pilots and Engineers of Air Nigeria embarked on strike to protest non-payment of salaries and other welfare packages due to them by the management of the airline.

The strike affected all domestic, regional and international operations of the airline.

However in a swift reaction, the airline management declared as illegal the strike action embarked upon by its workers under the auspices of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

In a statement issued by the company’s management it describe as unfortunate, the action of its technical staff saying that all avenues of negotiation have not been  exploited before they down tools.

The statement further said: “The strike action is uncalled for and a cheap blackmail by NAAPE as only one hour notice was given before the strike action was embarked upon.

“This, to say the least, is an unacceptable behaviour in the aviation industry and management is of the view that NAAPE is acting under external influence.

“It is very unreasonable and cheap blackmail for NAAPE to embark on strike action based on non-payment of May salaries at the midnight of May 31st when, in fact, some of the staff had collected their salaries with the rest of the staff still being processed.

“It is therefore illegal and criminal for NAAPE to allow itself to be used by competitors, who are envious of the giant steps already taken by Air Nigeria, and Management is already working on a policy that will put a permanent stop to this cheap blackmail.

“We regret the inconveniences this development has caused our passengers and wish to assure that efforts are ongoing to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

“In order to minimise the inconveniences, we have set up a refund process across our route network for passengers wishing to seek alternative arrangements for their travels.

“Our daily scheduled flight operation to London will operate as it is not affected by the strike action.”

The Air Nigeria branch of NAAPE in it reaction to the management’s statement and the reason they had to embark on strike noted that the issues at stake were far beyond the management’s simplistic approach.

In a statement cum notice of the strike jointly endorsed by the branch Chairman of NAAPE,R.M Ahmed and the Secretary, J.U Iyieugbuniwe, explained that:

‘’Rising from the meeting held at the Engineering complex, Air Nigeria on the 31st of March 2012, which had in attendance-Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Chief Executive Officer, Air Nigeria and all NAAPE National and Air Nigeria branch members.

The minister of Aviation was duly represented by the D.G, NCAA and matters bothering on the welfare of NAAPE members were discussed and impending  down tool was suspended pending the resolution of grievances.

NAAPE is saddened to inform all parties that as of today 31st May 2012, the issues are yet to be resolved’’.

It noted that issues raised at the meeting were-Delayed salaries of both local and foreign staff, Pension deduction not remitted for over seven (7) months, Tax refund and tax clearance issues, Co-operative deductions not yet remitted, Staff travel unresolved and Engineering tier system still pending.

It said that it was in the light of the lackadaisical attitude toward resolving all of the aforementioned issues that made the Association to resolve to down tools starting 1st June, 2012 indefinitely.

NAAPE therefore appealed  to all parties involved to adequately intervene and mandate Air Nigeria Management to properly address all outstanding grievances as soon as practicable.

The statement assured that its members would work with Management in order to return back to normal operations as soon as all the issues are addressed.

It pointed out that these issues have all been discussed and debated on since November 2011 with no headway, adding that the,‘’decision is consequent to our earlier notice to Management to down tool on the 1st of every month if salaries of the preceding month is not paid’’.

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