With the recent layoffs of Pilots and Engineers by Bristow Helicopters and Air Peace airline, aviation workers union is set to withdraw the services of Pilots and Aircraft maintainable engineers across all the Airlines in the country.
The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has given airline operators a two weeks ultimatum or face industrial unrest.
While addressing Journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, the National President, NAAPE, Comrade Galadima Abednego called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to as a matter of urgency prevail on all airline operators to stop forthwith their unilateral and reckless sacking of pilots and engineers under the pretense of COVID-19 pandemic just like a sister regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) did in the banking sector.
Galadima said: “We call on Federal Government of Nigeria to speedily release the promised relief package for the airlines and other government agencies to further save jobs and businesses.
“We want to strongly advise that Airlines operators that insist on laying off workers should not benefit from the relief package.
“As a result of the known consequences of these illegal actions and our commitment to patriotic fervor, we shall be forced to withdraw our guarantee of industrial peace within the industry if this call is not heeded within two weeks. Our union will be left with no other option but to withdraw the services of pilots and aircraft maintainable engineers across the airlines
“We will no longer condone a situation where airline operators go to government for relief packages and in turn punish Nigerians in whose name government gave the relief. Our laws must be respected and our airspace must be save secured and stable. It is our responsibility and we are prepared to take action before it is too late”.
Vice Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Tokunbo Korodo said the union has the full backing of the NLC.
He noted that the union is united.
“They have the total support of the NLC because injury to one is injury to all. We expect operators to go into meaningful negotiation with the union.
“As you know that we have a united labour union, NLC, so should expect that the fight we be sweet. However, our door is open for negotiations.