It was a bleak Monday for man air passengers across Nigeria who were booked to fly Arik Air as they were stranded following a strike by aviation unions, grounding operations of Arik Air.
Secretary-General of National Union of Air Transport Employees Ocheme Aba explained that the workers were protesting the ill-treatment of their members during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“Management of Arik air in a circular informed the staff that only 20 percent would be needed during the lockdown with salary payments of 20 percent to those who would be at home and 50 percent to those on duty unfortunately till date they were yet to be paid”, he said.
“Workers have no conditions of Service at all not, even a review,” Aba said.
Last Friday, NUATE and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) asked all their members working with Arik Air, with the exception of Pilots and Engineers, to down their tools with effect from 00hrs on 14th September, 2020.
Consequently, ticket counters of the airline at the domestic wings of the General Aviation Terminals One and Two, Lagos, were closed to customers.
The workers were later seen protesting in front of the GAT One terminal. They later went Arik headquarters, where they blocked the entrance gate.
In a letter signed by Ocheme Aba and Frances Akinjole, ATSSSAN deputy general secretary, said that “The Management of Arik Air took advantage of our peaceable disposition to continually frustrate our efforts to resolve the Conditions of Service negotiations as well as our demand for just and fair treatment for the workers during the COVID-19 period.
“In response, wherefore, our Unions have no choice than to reinstate the notice of withdrawal of services.
“Accordingly, all Arik Air workers (other than Pilots and Engineers) are hereby directed to withdraw all services with effect from 00hrs on 14th September, 2020 until the time issues stated above are satisfactorily resolved.”
The action caused a gridlock on the road leading in and out of the airport.
The management of Arik Air has apologised to its esteemed customers whose travel plans were disrupted by the picketing.
“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 in its statement.
Arik said customers with valid tickets but could not fly on Monday could modify such tickets at no cost for future travels.
