Nigeria Airspace workers shelve strike

By Chuks Okoh
Workers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have resolved to shelve their proposed strike scheduled for Monday August 4, 2014 at airports nationwide.
The shelving of the strike according to the general manager public affairs of the airspace agency, Mr Supo Atobatele followed an amicable resolution of welfare issues between the management and labour union leaders.
Atobatele said the resolution was jointly signed at the weekend in a communique issued by union leaders from National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria( ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Employees ( NAAPE) and management staff of the agency led by the Director Human Resources, Dr.Uwem Akangson.
He said :” The management agreed to phase the payment of arrears of the consolidated salary structure starting with staff on level 06 who are expected to be paid on or before August 8,2014.
The managing director of the agency, Engr.Ibrahim Abdulsalam has however assured air travellers that flights will operate across the nation’s airports without any disruption.
Prior to the resolution, three aviation unions at the weekend told workers to stay at home until the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) implement their demands regarding workers’ welfare.
The workers under the aegis the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) had directed workers in the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) nationwide to commence an indefinite industrial action effective Monday .
Also,they were directed to stay at their respective homes until informed by their leaders to resume work.
The unions, in a notice dated July 31, 2014, entitled, “Notice of Industrial Action”, signed by Abdulkareem Motajo (General Secretary, NUATE), Capt. N. Tarnungu (Deputy General Secretary, (ATSSSAN), Isidore Opara (Secretary Federal Organ, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and Abba Ocheme (General Secretary, NAAPE) said the action was necessitated by the breach of the resolution reached at the end of the conciliatory meeting held at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu and the unions.
The meeting according to them held on March 4, 2014. They said NAMA management failed to keep subsequent promises on the issue.