OPERATIONS HALTED AS UNION CLASH WITH ARIK AIR STAFF OVER AIRLINE’S MANAGEMENT
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Protests hit the office of Arik Air in Lagos, Aviation Unions and staff of the airline clash over differences in the operations of the airline, Aviation Union Workers trooped out to demonstrate against the current Arik management, Arik Management intolerant of unionism, Arik Management sack union members.
Arik Air Operations Grounded Over Union Protest. Flights are cancelled or rescheduled. It is a full day of protests at the Arik Air office in Lagos, as Aviation Unions and staff of the airline clashed over differences in the operations of the airline.
OPERATIONS HALTED AS UNION CLASH WITH ARIK AIR STAFF OVER AIRLINE’S MANAGEMENT
Consequently, the unions, which include the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, had on Wednesday threatened to shut down the airline following Arik management’s failure to reinstate its sacked members
Finally, the following day Thursday, the Aviation Union Workers trooped out to demonstrate against the current management of Arik Airs which they described as intolerant of unionism, particularly concerning the sack of its members and issuing circulars prohibiting member staff from participating in the union activities.
On the other hand, the staff of the airline also staged a protest denouncing the action of the Aviation Workers Unions, which they described as detrimental to the fortunes of Arik.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is said to have stepped into the matter and is holding a peace meeting with the parties involved, to resolve the dispute.
The protests have obstructed the airline’s flight operations and free movement of traffic on the airport road.
OPERATIONS HALTED AS UNION CLASH WITH ARIK AIR STAFF OVER AIRLINE’S MANAGEMENT
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Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON)
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on February 9 took over Arik as a result of the airline’s bad debt to the company and other creditors. As a result of this take-over AMCON appointed Roy Ilegbodu as manager of the airline. But Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, while speaking on Wednesday in Lagos, accused the new management of intolerance to unionism.
Mr. Abioye alleged that the new management, through a recent circular, warned the workers not to join the unions in the industry and had refused to address all the pending issues affecting the workers.
Abioye recalled that the unions in December 2016 had issues with the former management of the airline, which led to the shutdown of Arik’s operations for a day, before the intervention of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
“Certain commitments were arrived at from the meeting and we were supposed to have a feedback early this year.
“When we got there, the former Arik Air management was not in sight and we later learnt that the AMCON management has taken over the airline.
“As expected from responsible union bodies, we wrote a letter to the new management seeking for a meeting with them, which was approved.
“We got to that meeting and the airline’s Receiver Manager, acted in an ‘uncivilised’ manner.
OPERATIONS HALTED AS UNION CLASH WITH ARIK AIR STAFF OVER AIRLINE’S MANAGEMENT
“He walked out the leaders of the three unions and asked his bodyguards to send us out.
“Contrary to expectation, a circular was issued by the carrier’s Vice President, Human Resources, to the effect that Arik workers should shun unionism.
“The circular said this is because the airline had zero tolerance for trade unions. That it was a criminal offence,’’ he said.
Abioye said after the scenario that played out, the same management wrote a petition against the unions to the Inspector-General of Police, claiming that the unions had threatened him.
Staff of the airline on Thursday shut down its operations, as the entrance of the airline’s office at the Lagos airport was barricaded.
We still await more information as days go by.
Deacon Anekperechi Nworgu, a seasoned economist who transitioned into a chartered accountant, auditor, tax practitioner, and business consultant, brings with him a wealth of industry expertise spanning over 37 years.
