MMIA Domestic Terminal 2 in Ikeja, Lagos
‘Aviation workers’ strike will be resolved speedily’ – NAHCO assures
Hours after its workers embarked upon an industrial action which has already disrupted airport services across the country, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Aviance has assured that the situation ‘will be speedily resolved.’
Flights at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), ikeja, Lagos, Monday morning were grounded as workers of the ground handling company embarked on strike.
NAHCO handles check-in, boarding and ramp services for several international airlines including; Air France/KLM, Qatar, Ethiopian Airlines, Delta Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Air.
NAHCO Aviance is also the biggest aviation ground handling service provider in the country with presence in all major Nigerian airports.
Workers of the NAHCO Aviance had embarked on an industrial action, Monday, despite a subsisting court order, to press home their demands on the management to effect administrative policies, including remuneration.
NAHCO Aviance is the biggest aviation ground handling service provider in the country with presence in all major Nigerian airports.
The workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) had last week issued a five – day notice of strike to NAHCO management citing slow progress in negotiation for salary review.
In response, NAHCO Aviance appealed to the workers for accelerated negotiation to be continued next month, February to enable it stabilise from the financial effect of the recent promotions. The company had recently promoted about 2,000 staff.
However, the labour unions insisted on a strike action prompting NAHCO Aviance management to seek for court intervention to prevent the planned industrial action by the workers.
The aviation firm, reacting to the strike, Monday, in a statement signed by the Group Executive Director, Dr. Olusola Obabori, in Lagos, confirmed the development, as he also lamented that some of the company’s clients were being put through a difficult situation by the insistence of some staff to embark on strike action despite a subsisting order of court which restrained them from doing so.
“We regret all the inconveniences. We are already engaging the unions and other stakeholders and are positive the situation would be resolved within hours.
“We understand the power of negotiation. The company which has arguably the best welfare package among the local players in the aviation industry will do all that is absolutely necessary to make its workforce happy even as it delights its customers.
“This situation would be resolved speedily as it is detrimental to the staff, the company and its esteemed clients,” he said.
