Aviation unions begin 2-day strike, FAAN urge passengers on ‘Plan B’

Aviation unions begin 2-day strike, faan urge passengers on 'plan b'The Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Chapter, has urged the intending passengers and stakeholders to make contingency plans in order to avoid missing their appointments.

FAAN management said, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, that any inconvenience that could be experienced was highly regretted.

“The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport wishes to inform the General Public of the  Aviation Union`s planned two days warning strikes scheduled to start Monday April 17, 2023.

Aviation workers’ unions had last week threatened to embark on a two-day strike from Monday over alleged failure to implement the conditions of service agreement between the union and some aviation agencies.
This was contained in a statement issued and signed by officials of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals.
Others are the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services.
The unions noted an indefinite strike would ensue after the two-day warning strike if their demands aren’t met.
”Our unions issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and specific aviation parastatals on Feb. 7, over non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet ), refusal of the Income & Wages Commission and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to release the reviewed Condition of Service of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET).
“Also planned demolition exercise of aviation’s agency buildings in Lagos by the Minister of Aviation for an airport city project has been strong resisted by our union but the ministry remains adamant so we are commencing the warning strike,” the union said.
The aviation union urged its members to comply with the the directive adding that its state councils, branches and executives  to enforce the directive without compromise.
FAAN however stated that, “The Nnamdi Azikiwe Intenational Airport Management wishes to inform the general public that the airport will be opened for operation as usual. You may however wish to note that there may be disruptions in flight operations as a result of the planned strike action.

“Intending passengers and stakeholders are kindly advised and note so as to make contingency plans in order to avoid missing their flights and appointments. Any inconvenience experienced is highly regretted, “ FAAN management said.

BRANDPOWER reports that the unions say there is no going back on the total showdown of aviation activities in the country Monday and Tuesday.

The strike is being led by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Nigerian Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Engineers Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employers.

The unions claim that their demands, including the implementation of new minimum wage consequential adjustment with arrears for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) since 2019 and the release of the reviewed conditions of service for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and NIMET, have not been met despite issuing an ultimatum to the minister of aviation and the chief executive officers of the agencies.

The unions had earlier in a notice to their members across airports in the country and aviation agencies issued a two-day warning strike to press home their demands for workers entitlements.

Their demands include approval and implementation of the agreement Condition of Service, CoS, as agreed between them and the agencies by the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Office of the  Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

Others are; non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet since 2019 and the planned demolition exercise of all the agency buildings in Lagos by the Minister of Aviation for an airport city project.

BRANDPOWER reports that the Secretary General of the National Union of Transport Employees, NUATE, Mr Ocheme Aba said, all that the unions want is not an appeal or negotiation but implementation of their demands.