Aviation workers shelve strike

Aviation unions on Monday carried out a peaceful demonstration at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in protest against the planned commencement of renovation work on the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited.

The unions, last week, threatened to down their tools and shut down the nation's airspace if Bi-Courtney begins a planned refurbishment of the terminal on Monday.

"We've not gone on strike yet, but we will embark on strike if Bi-Courtney should start renovation work on GAT failing to adhere to the directive from the presidency to stay action," said Benjamin Okewu, president, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), one of the protesting unions.

The other unions in the protest include: the Nigerian Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE); the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP); the Trade Union Congress (TUC); and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Gideon Ogbuji, national secretary, NUATE, disclosed that the unions are putting a hold on the strike as a result of inaction by Bi-Courtney.

"If Bi-Courtney takes over the terminal as they have planned, we have no option but to down tools," he said. "But since no action yet, we will hold on."

The unions disclosed that Bi-Courtney has exempted itself from the agreement reached with officials of the presidency three weeks ago in Abuja.

According to Mr. Ogbuji, the government, during the meeting with the affected parties, instructed the unions and Bi-Courtney to stay action, pending the return of the president from Saudi Arabia. The unions expressed displeasure with the manner in which the government has handled the matter, stressing that the government has failed on their part by not inviting the unions again for dialogue on issues surrounding the handover of the terminal as they had earlier promised.

"Bi-Courtney is trying to take GAT forcefully and alleging that the September 23 agreement is not binding on them," said Frank Aiyede, a spokesperson for one of the unions last week.

Labour minister

According to Adetokunbo Kayode, the Minister for Labour and Productivity, the protesters cannot withdraw services because they have not yet exhausted all avenues for peaceful resolution. A statement from the minister on Monday read that he was "shocked and surprised" at the refusal of the aviation workers to pursue all relevant and necessary means in resolving the contending issues before deciding to embark on strike. Mr. Kayode also said that he is surprised that the association has not forwarded any of their grievances to the ministry up till now.

History

The unions are protesting against the concessioning of the General Aviation Terminal to Bi-Courtney. They are of the opinion that the terminal is not included in the concession agreement signed by the government and the new domestic terminal operators. Meanwhile, the MMA2 management argues that the agreement it reached with the government vests the right to build, operate and transfer all domestic airports in Lagos State on B-Courtney.