National Union of Air Transport Employee, NUATE, said on workers day celebration that the federal government is yet to address all the labour issues raised by aviation workers unions in the ongoing concession of the nation’s four international airports. Speaking during this year’s workers day, the President of NUATE, Comrade Ben K. Nnabue said the union will confront the federal government this week on the issues raised and may likely go on strike if the issues are not addressed. Nnabue said “Our union is unsatisfied with ongoing discussions around the big question of airports concession. We are unclear as to government’s actual response the demands of aviation unions on labour issues and many lapses in the concession programme. In the coming weeks, important decisions will be made to chart a clear path towards ameliorating already stated demands of workers.”.
Also speaking on the minimum wage, the NUATE President said , ” The twin big issues of Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment and Conditions of Service for the aviation Agencies are currently raging. We stand firmly by the decision of workers not to accept continuing shifting of the goal post by government agencies on these issues. Therefore, this week has been set out for major decisions and subsequent decisive actions that will bring these issues to a foreclosure.” He also said that, “in like manner, we express our frustration at the dilly-dallying attitude of the BPE in attending to the negotiated redundancy benefits of ex-staff of SAHCO, a matter pending since 2009. Let me assure the affected ex-workers that the unions have gone so far and cannot retreat on the matter at this point. We are at the verge of final solution, failing which we shall take decisive actions towards seeking justice for the victims.”
On the current state of the aviation industry, he expressed frustration that “before we could feel the relief from the waning notorious Corona virus, our industry was greeted with the double punch of the Putin war on Ukraine and skyrocketing aviation fuel price. Against the background of negative travellers’ reaction to recent air fare increases, these multiple adversities have been exceedingly crippling, particularly for airlines. This has delayed the exit of our industry from recession. As expected, your union has been seriously challenged by the current pall surrounding the aviation industry. Notwithstanding, however, your Union has been proving equal to the task, even making notable strides to the bargain,” he added.
