The National Union of Air Transport Employees NUATE and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN in Arik Air on Monday paralysed Arik Air operations and left its passengers stranded over the failure of the organisation to pay severance package to retiring workers.
Passengers travelling from Owerri, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Jos, Abuja, Lagos and other destinations operated by the airline waited vainly for their flights but none came.
The airline later cancelled all its flights.
As early as 6:00 a.m. members of the unions blocked Arik Air gate at its headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and stopped all technical and administrative staff from gaining access to their offices; so pilots and cabin crew were stopped from preparing and operating flights.
After several hours of delay, passengers at the Lagos airport scrambled to buy tickets from other airlines but some of them who could not afford to do that left the airport to seek other alternative means to travel to their destination.
The Secretary-General of NUATE, Comrade Ocheme Aba said the picketing carried out by the unions was necessary following the refusal of the airline management to accede to their demands.
He said their demands include payment of the balance of the staff salaries both for those who worked and at home during the period of the lockdown.
According to him, a circular by the Arik Air management informed the staff during the lockdown that only 20 per cent of staff were needed at work and promised that the 80 per cent sent on compulsory leave would be paid 20 per cent salaries when those on duty would be paid 50 per cent salaries.
Comrade Aba said, Arik Air management only paid one month and till date nothing had been paid to both those who were at work and those at home.
“First of all these decisions were taken unilaterally and based on labour practice every decision that would affect in terms of payment of the workers has to be negotiated, there has to be a collective bargaining agreement, that’s the labour and yet they didn’t even keep to that promise.”
Meanwhile, Arik Air has apologised to its passengers for their flights that were disrupted by the action of the unions, pledging to modify the tickets of the passengers for future travel without charge.
The airline in a statement signed by its Manager, Communications and Public Relations, Adebanji Ola said, “The management of Arik Air (In Receivership) apologises to all our esteemed customers whose travel plans were disrupted by the picketing of our operations by some disgruntled staff on Monday, September 14, 2020.
“We wish to place on record that the picketing was illegal and has no backing of the aviation unions whose leadership have embraced dialogue by attending mediatory meetings called for Tuesday, September 15, 2020 by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“The management strongly condemns this action and once again assures all stakeholders of a safe and conducive working environment. We shall also protect the interest of the flying public for a safe, friendly and on time travelling experience.”
The airline said it was ready to work with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Aviation and NCAA to resolve all pending issues with the unions and a section of the staff.
“Customers with valid tickets who could not fly on Monday can modify such tickets at no cost for future travels. We are working to bring the situation under control and the public will be advised accordingly,” the airline said.
