Aviation workers threaten two-day warning strike over CoS, welfare

Aviation workers’ unions have threatened to down tools next week, in protest against non-release of new Condition of Service (CoS) in the last seven years and other welfare issues.

The unions, yesterday, bemoaned non-implementation of the CoS almost eight years after it was negotiated with workers.

Also lamented were non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) since 2019, and planned demolition of all the agency buildings in Lagos by the Minister of Aviation for an airport city project, but without consideration for workers that would be displaced.

A two-day warning strike notice to workers of all aviation agencies, yesterday, signed by the secretaries general of the five unions, warned that the industrial action would hold on April 17 and 18, with the likelihood of an indefinite strike, thereafter.

Recall that the unions had notified airlines and the public of total withdrawal of air travel services in February 2022, in protest against poor welfare and non-release of the CoS. Following intervention, the industrial action was suspended.

The coalition, made up of members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), said it had earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum to the minister since February 7, 2023 on the same matter.

According to the notice, the ultimatum has since expired and nothing tangible was done.

The memo reads: “Recall that our unions, as named above, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Minister of Aviation and specific aviation parastatals since February 7, 2023. This is over the following demands: the non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) since 2019, refusal of the Salaries, Income & Wages Commission (NSIWC) and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHCSF) to release the reviewed Condition of Service (CoS) of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and NiMet, as negotiated between our unions and the agencies, and duly conveyed by the Federal Ministry of Aviation since upwards of nine years.”

The unions have, therefore, directed members to comply with the directive, while all state councils, branches and executives have been urged to enforce the order.