Air travellers using Air Peace were confronted with flight disruptions on Tuesday after aviation workers’ unions commenced picketing of the airline’s operations in Lagos and Abuja.
The industrial action was led by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers.
The unions accused the airline of denying its employees the freedom to join trade unions and alleged that statutory charges collected from passengers had not been remitted to the relevant aviation agencies.
Their action was supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, which had earlier backed the unions’ threat to embark on industrial action if their grievances remained unresolved.
The aviation unions had on August 4 issued a notice warning of possible picketing, saying they had given the affected airlines ample opportunity to address the issues.
They alleged that employees of some domestic carriers were afraid to express interest in joining unions because of the possibility of discrimination or victimisation.
The unions insisted that workers should be allowed to freely choose and belong to trade organisations without intimidation from their employers.
Another major point of contention was the alleged withholding of a five per cent charge collected from ticket sales and meant to fund the operations of aviation agencies.
According to the unions, failure to remit the money had affected the implementation of previously negotiated collective bargaining agreements covering workers in the aviation sector.
They therefore demanded that the affected airlines issue formal directives to employees affirming their freedom to join unions of their choice.
The unions also called for the immediate remittance of the outstanding funds, saying the money was necessary for the proper functioning of aviation agencies and implementation of workers’ conditions of service.
They warned that prolonged industrial dissatisfaction among aviation workers could have wider implications for the safety and stability of the sector.
The dispute over the ticket sales charge has also brought the unions into conflict with the Airline Operators of Nigeria, with the labour groups accusing domestic carriers of failing to remit the statutory funds.
The latest picketing has disrupted Air Peace operations at the two major airports, leaving passengers caught up in the industrial dispute.
Air Peace had yet to publicly respond to the allegations or announce when normal operations would resume as of the time of filing this report.
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