Wednesday, March 13, 2013

► NIGERIA: AeroContractors flights grounded following staff strike.

Nigerian domestic operator, Aero Contractors A(J), was today, forced to suspend all flights following a strike by staff over pay and working conditions at the airline. 

AeroContractors
AeroContractors
Members of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, and the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, embarked on their strike early this morning citing "unpaid salaries and poor conditions of service" and resulting in the grounding of all Aero flights.
Aero Management apologised in a brief statement for “the inconvenience suffered by our highly esteemed customers due to an abrupt industrial action by our staff which has led to grounding of all our scheduled operations.” 
Source [PremiumTimes]

The airline said it is engaging with the unions to find a quick solution.

Aviation in Nigeria, however, paints a different picture, stating that the strike is also about the appointment of a new human resource manager and a plan to outsource employees.

Nigeria’s second biggest airline has been struggling for almost two years. Shortly after 2010, then woner Cecilia Ibru, was arrested for financial fraud following which Aero was taken over by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, over the accrual of heavy debts.