The management of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (Nahco Aviance has dialogued with with the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) to end the strike embarked upon by its (Nahco Aviance) staff on Monday.
Recall that the workers stopped work in the early hours of today thereby causing a disruption in both domestic and international travels at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
The firm handles check-in, boarding and ramp services for several international airlines including Air France/KLM, Qatar, Ethiopian Airlines, Delta Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Turkish Air as well as domestic carriers, including Air Peace which has the largest fleet and flies to many destinations.
Reacting to the development, the company’s group executive director, Dr. Olusola Obabori said in a statement issued by the assistant general manager, administrative services, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye, said the management “is engaging the unions and bringing to an end the disruption in flight services occasioned by the industrial action embarked upon by a section of its staff.”
Obabori said NAHCO acknowledged that some of its clients were being put through a difficult situation by the striking workers despite a subsisting court’s order restraining them from the action.
“We regret all the inconveniences. The company is already engaging the Unions and other stakeholders and is 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.
He recalled that NUATE and ATSSSAN had, last week, gave a five-day notice of strike to NAHCO management citing slow progress in negotiation for salary review.
“The company which just promoted about 2,000 members of its workforce asked that accelerated negotiation be continued in February to enable the company stabilise from the financial effect of the recent promotions.
“Undaunted, the unions gave the notice of strike prompting the management of the company to seek for court intervention to prevent the industrial action while negotiation proceeds in a serene and conducive atmosphere,” Obabori said.
