Passengers stranded as unions ground Arik Air
Over hundreds of Arik Air passengers were stranded at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos today, following the grounding of the airline by aviation unions.
MARKETING EDGE gathered that the unions under the aegis of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) staged a protest at the head office of Arik Airline to condemn the ban of unionism in the organization.
“These actions taken by Arik Air clearly indicate that the management of the Airline has chosen to create a combustible industrial atmosphere at Arik Air which to us is most unfortunate.” the statement jointly signed by the unions read.
They argued that the decision was a way of denying workers the right to belong to unions of their choice, as well as the benefit of collective barging through negotiated condition of service.
Recall that the unions had urged all its members to withdraw their services with effect from midnight of Thursday the 23rd of March, 2017 until Arik meets all conditions outlined by the unions.
According to the statement, the conditions are: “Implement the check-off dues system in accordance with labour law and in tandem with duly endorsed membership request forms from our members in Arik. The payment shall be in arrears with interest according to the times of submission of the membership forms by us at various times.
“Conclude a negotiated Conditions of Service with our various Unions which shall contain the schemes of service for various cadres of staff of the airline.
“Recall without loss of pay or service all those wrongly terminated by Arik management. Undertake to comply with all laws guiding employment and operation of trade unions going forward. Also, AMCON should engage a new saner Receiver Manager.” It reads.
The stranded passengers complained bitterly about the new development, Mr. Idara Ezekiel, said his flight to Jos was suppose to take off 11:00am, but soon he realized that the Airline had been grounded. He complained that the airline did not inform the passengers on time about the development.
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