Unions Threaten FAAN With Strike Over Unpaid Benefits

By Chuks Okoh
Aviation workers under the aegis of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) have demanded for the implementation of the various approved agreements between them and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The workers who stated this at a congress held in Lagos said if their demands were not implemented in full they will embark on strike as from June 30, 2014.Some of the demands include the immediate payment of pensions and gratuities to staff, payment of 27 per cent balance minimum wage, proper placement of all newly recruited staff in accordance with the civil service rules and scheme of service, 2013 and 2014 implementation of promotion of staff and renewed condition of service for workers.
Speaking to newsmen after the congress, the general secretary of NUATE, Mr. Abdulkareem Motajo said the unions had held a meeting with FAAN but regretted that the agency’s management had been dragging its feet.
He said the unions decided to call the congress in order to get approval from the workers, saying that several unprofessional conducts had happened in the sector in the past years and needed urgent change.
In his reaction to the threat, FAAN spokesman, Mr. Yakubu Dati assured that most of the workers’ demands would be met. He said the managing director of FAAN, Mr. Dunoma Saleh was part and parcel of the unions and would do everything to ensure that their welfare issue would be addressed.
“We are partners in progress with the unions and the managing director has been part of the unions in the past 30 years. That was why immediately he resumed office, he held a meeting with the unions. So, he is aware of these requests and he is going to sit down with the other management team to look at the best way to resolve them.
“We are also part of the unions because the growth of the unions at the end of the day is what is bringing us together. The unions want the growth of the industry and we also want the same. The managing director will look at those demands and we will sit with them and make our positions known. I want to reemphasise that the managing director being a part of them is also conscious that we need the workers to move the sector forward and he is going to ensure that all the issues that have been raised are going to be addressed,” said Dati.