Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and employees of Landover Company today grounded the operations of the firm because of unfair labour practices.
The union and workers who besieged the company’s premises on Simbiat Abiola Road, Ikeja as early as 6am chanted solidarity songs and accused the management of insensitivity to the labour laws.
In an interview with journalists, the president of ATSSSAN, Mr. Ilitrus Ahmadu said the association had been in talks with the management of Landover Company over the review of conditions off services.
He said the issue ought to have been resolved since 2016 “but the management due to indiscretion dragged the process up till now.”
“In the Landover Group, we have the Helicopters landing officers who are affiliated to the ATSSSAN and we are here becaue of an avoidable situation that was mismanaged by the management.
“We have been talking, but there are few areas that we have not been able to agree, but they are fundamental areas covered by the laws. For instance, Landover says if they have a disciplinary committee to try our members, no union should be a part of it. This is unheard off.
“The law requires that the union to which the officer belongs to should be represented even in an observer capacity. We’ve been dragging this wish Landover for a long time, but they don’t seem to agree.
“The last time we met, we adjourned the meeting and we were shocked when we returned…that the meeting could not go on because Landover has referred the matter to the federal ministry of labour.
“But they discovered that all the issues they were dragginge are non-issues. For instance, you don’t want the meaning of corruption defined in the condition of service. I think all these things are little things we could have done away with. “However, when they agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding, the landover management worked out of the meeting and said they were not going to sign,” he said.
He alleged that the management “does not want to shuift grounds on the condition of service” adding “if you serve up to 15 years in Landover, you are not entitled to more than N340,000 no matter your position.”
An employee who preferred anonimty echoed what Ahmadu said stressing that the worrkers were protesting against injustice in the company.
“One of our senior members was sacked in this company for no just reason and he had served for 15 years and three months. He was paid only N340,000 as all his entitlements and benefits. We disagree with this because this is not what in our cumulative bargaining agreement. The document is very clear on what should be paid to workers that are disengaged. There should even be redundancy package for the person,” he said.
He added: “Our taxes are not remitted to the appropriate quarters by the management. For almost two years now, the management would deduct taxes from us, but they are not remitted to the tax office. I’ve been in this company now for 15 years, but I am yet to see any tax clearance.
“Lots of things are happening in this company. The company took us to the ministry of labour, but when it discovered that it was losing grounds, it opted out. Also, the retirement period in this company is 45-50 years, which is even against the labour law.”
