The intervention of the Minister of Labour in the sack of some pilots and engineers has yielded positive reports as the warring parties, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE and the Management of Bristow Helicopters have agreed to reverse the action.
Spokesperson for NAAPE, Comrade Frank Igwe giving details of the meeting chaired by the representative of the Ministry of Labour said, it was agreed that henceforth if Bristow Management was to embark on any sack of pilot or engineer, due process must be followed which is call for negotiation of redundancy before sack.
He also explained that, before sack, those that would be affected should be informed before sack letters were issued.
“We are ready to negotiate and we are going to be in that meeting. Our aim is to better the welfare of our members and for the good of the Management as well, that is what NAAPE stands for and we stand for peace and we agree that an injury for one is an injury for all.”
“Another meeting is slated for Thursday next week.”
Similarly, the President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba has condemned the recent unilateral sack of Pilots by Air Peace, Bristow Helicopters and the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE executives working with Turkish Air.
In a statement Comrade Wabba describe, the sack as is highly insensitive, callous, and unjust.
“The unilateral sack of executive members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) working with Turkish Airline is particularly distressing. These workers were sacked for fighting for the rights of Nigerian workers in Turkish Air. This is very reprehensible. We wish to remind Turkish Air that unionized workers cannot be punished or sacked for participating in trade union activities.”
He warns that the absence of unions in Air Peace will not stop NLC from fighting for the rights of the sacked workers, adding that they will fight for the reinstatement of the sacked workers and for workers’ unionization in Air Peace.
“On the case of the sacked pilots and other categories of workers by Air Peace, we state that it is unfortunate that the management of Air Peace has fully exploited the atmosphere of industrial tyranny in Air Peace which forbids workers from joining trade unions to strike this fatal blow on the livelihood and career of the sacked workers. The Nigeria Labour Congress warns that the absence of unions in Air Peace will not stop NLC from fighting for the rights of the sacked workers.”
As was done to the financial sector, Comrade Wabba urge government to immediately release palliative support to the aviation industry.
He also call on all workers to understand that these are dreary times and must take the issue of the defense of their rights seriously.
