Aviation workers issue MMA2 seven-day picket notice over mass sack

We’ve violated no Nigerian law, says Bi-Courtney
Aviation workers’ union has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the operator of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal II (MMA2), Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), to reverse the sack of 37 members or face picketing, among others.

The union, under the aegis of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), described the mass sack as victimisation of comrades pressing for implementation of Condition of Service (CoS).

BASL, in a reaction to the threat, yesterday, said the disengagement of workers was in line with labour laws, as the organisation has always been dutiful in the affairs of its workers.

The Guardian learnt that both the MMA2 management and ATSSSAN have been in a running battle over implementation of CoS and unionism.

Lately, agreement had been reached to implement the provision of CoS. However, on October 14, 2022, BASL issued 34 union leaders and three other workers compulsory 10- day “leave of absence”, with a guarantee that all their entitlements would not be tampered with. Two weeks later, they were all fired.

ATSSSAN Deputy General Secretary, Frances Akinjole, said the association had frowned at the compulsory leave issued to branch executive officers and members of its union at MMA2.

He said ATSSSAN expressed disbelief at the turn of events, considering that it was still in negotiations over the CoS in the last nine months.

In a notice sent to BASL at the weekend, and sighted by The Guardian, ATSSSAN said: “We view your 10-day leave of absence letters to our executives and members as a clear victimisation of members, who have made bold demands for their rights. In the light of the above, we demand as follows: the payment of terminal entitlements to all deserving staff without further delay.

“The withdrawal of the 10-day leave of absence letters issued to our affected branch executives and members.

“We have made it clear to the BASL management that if they resolve to undertake staff rationalisation, we, as a union, are ready to engage them in discussions, but we will never accept intimidation and victimisation of our members in the manner the management is going about it.

“Relying on our pending ultimatums and notices, in respect of some of our pending demands, we, hereby, avail BASL management seven days, from today, within which to comply with the above demands, failing which we will do all that we deem expedient in the circumstance.”

But BASL said it has done the needful as an organisation. “We have paid all allowances, as and when they fell due. We have made our statutory pension contribution to the retirement saving accounts of our workers without fail.

“We have a health insurance scheme for our workers and their family members, and we have always paid a premium, as and when it is due. We also have a life insurance scheme for our employees.”

“During the prevalence of COVID-19, when all businesses were shut down, we paid a substantial percentage of salaries to our staff during the lock down. As soon as the lockdown eased, we paid the balance of salaries to all our staff. We were informed that we were probably the only organisation in the aviation industry that extended this gesture to its staff during COVID-19.”