[UPDATE 20 MAY] Employees of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) affiliated to the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), are to proceed with a strike beginning Monday 20 May at 00h01. The walkout has come about as result of an ongoing wage dispute with the organization's management. |
| Lagos Murtala Muhammed Interntional Airport |
The three aviation unions had on Thursday, May 16, threatened to shutdown Nigeria's airspace beginning Monday morning as a result of "the failure of the authorities to pay them higher wages," but later called it off pending the outcome of talks with management. However, a recently issued statement by the collective unions now says that effective midnight May 20, Nigeria's airspace would be locked down.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the ultimatum issued against NAMA shall expire 0000 hrs May 19, 2013. And appropriate actions shall commence thereafter.
In view of the reactionary, timid, (and) misleading press statement of NAMA management through Supo Atobatele, who in the first instance is not the author of the ultimatum, we wish to reassure all our members that (there will be) no retreat, no surrender, and until all grievances are sorted out, there is no going back on our cause of action,” the unions said.
Source [Panapress]
NAMA had earlier claimed that an agreement had been met and that the strike had been averted.
[UPDATE 20 MAY] Panapress reports that the strike called by the aviation workers in the employ of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to press for higher wages, started off as scheduled on Monday, but failed to shut down the country's airspace as threatened by the workers.
In negotiations that ended late on Monday between Government, the Unions and Management, two of the unions namely, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN)resolved to shelve their strike, Nigeria's Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah has said.
The decision to shelve the strike action followed some Resolutions taken at the end of a meeting in Abuja convened at the instance of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu with the leadership of the two Unions and the Management of NAMA.
At the meeting, it was unanimously agreed that due notification was not given to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in the aforementioned dispute. The meeting consequently resolved that:
At the meeting, it was unanimously agreed that due notification was not given to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in the aforementioned dispute. The meeting consequently resolved that:
- The issue of determination of the basic salary and other allowances for the staff of NAMA concerned shall be taken up by a Committee to be headed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation
- To be included in that Committee are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Chairman, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC). Other members are to be worked out by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation including the number of Trade Union membership.
- The time frame for the work of the Committee shall be concluded within a reasonable time as was deliberated upon and agreed at the meeting.