NLC Orders Aero Contractors to Recall Workers

Aero Contractors

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the management of Aero tractors to recall over 600 workers sacked over industrial dispute.

The labour union in a letter signed by, acting National Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, titled, “Don’t Provoke Nigerian Workers”, accused the airline of ignoring all industrial relations mechanisms available in the  sector to mediate between it and the workers but instead decided to terminal their appointments.

NLC threatened that the Nigerian workers would rise against the airline if its management did not rescind its decision and recall the workers.


“We are surprised that despite huge opportunities provided by the existence of vibrant, well informed, matured and responsible trade unions in the aviation sector, the management of Aero Contractors decided to ignore all available industrial relations mechanisms by dismissing over 655 employees of the company and locked out the entire workforce since March 13.

“Before the management carried out these ill informed actions, they had approached the National Industrial Court for an injunction that will provide the management an opportunity to take anti workers decisions without consultation with the unions, the National Union of Air Transport Employees and the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria,” the letter said.
It also noted that the basic intention of the management was to ultimately “circumscribe workers rights to belong to the unions as well as casualise the entire workforce.”

NLC said such action was totally unacceptable “to us and we will do everything possible to defend the rights of the workers.”

The national union also said, “While we applaud the steps taken so far by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA which grounded the airline since safety cannot be guaranteed with an airline that has caused itself avoidable industrial crisis. All employees of airlines all over the world are key to security and safety of flights.

“We call on the management of the airline to recall all those dismissed and reopen their offices immediately.

“While we will not hesitate to take appropriate solidarity actions in defence of the workers should the management refuse to reverse its decisions, we urge the workers to continue to take all necessary actions, together with their unions, until the decisions are reversed,” the letter also said.

Aero Contractors two weeks ago disagreed with its workers when it wanted to outsource significant part of its manpower.
The workers revolted and  the airline served them termination letters and stopped operation.

Aero has lost over N500 million since it grounded its operations.




-- Thisdaylive