Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Following the flights disruption experienced across the country on Monday due to the strike embarked upon by Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) workers over their welfare, the management of the company has said it was already engaging the workers’ unions to bring an end to the chaotic situation.
The strike embarked upon by the workers over the refusal of the NAHCO management to prioritise their welfare, led to the disruption of both local and international flights on Monday.
Many airlines including foreign carriers like Virgin Atlantic, Qatar, Ethiopian Airlines could not operate their flights with scores of passengers stranded across the country’s airports.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday by its Group Executive Director, Dr Olusola Obabori, NAHCO acknowledged that some of its clients were being put through a difficult situation by the insistence of some staff to embark on the strike despite a subsisting court order, which restrained them from doing so.
Obabori said the company is already engaging the unions and other stakeholders over the strike.
“We regret all the inconveniences, the Company is 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.
“The Company, which just promoted about 2,000 members of its workforce asked that accelerated negotiation be continued in February to enable the Company stabilize 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,” he said.
The aviation unions consisting of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) had last week issued a five-day strike notice to NAHCO management, citing slow progress in negotiation for salary review.
