Aviation unions pledge total support for Monday strike against hike of fuel, energy tariffs
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Labour unions in the aviation sector of the national economy has put all workers in both the core and allied services of the sector on notice of the proposed nationwide strike action scheduled for Monday, 28th September 2020.
The statement by the four unions namely, National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, National Association of Aircraft Pilots And Engineers, NAAPE, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association Of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, and the Association Of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, ANAP, said it’s under compulsion for aviation workers to align with the umbrella bodies, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, in the national strike.
All the four unions unanimously agreed that both the NLC and the TUC deserved unflinching support in this call for government to retrace its steps by reversing the increase recently announced on the pump price of fuel, the increase on the tariff for energy and the general insecurity that pervaded the nation’s landscape.
In the statement jointly signed by the scribes of the four unions, Comrade Ocheme Aba, NUATE, Comrade Abdul Razaq Seidu, ANAP, Comrade Frances Akinjole, ATSSSAN and Comrade Umoh Ofonime, NAAPE, the unions said they “are in full support of the strike action. As such all workers in the aviation sector are hereby directed to withdraw their services at all aerodromes nationwide as from 00hrs of 28th September 2020.”
They urged the workers to stand up and be counted in the struggle against oppression, exploitation, slavery and insensitive government policy, to the plight of the workers who created the wealth for the country while those elected to guarantee their wellbeing are now denying workers basic things of survival.
Also put on notice by the unions are the general public and particularly airport users, aviation companies of all shades and government agencies, have all being advised accordingly.
However, the Federal Government had warned civil servants not to obey the call for industrial action by labour unions.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COUNTER DIRECTIVE
A statement from the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, in Abuja on Friday, reminded the civil servants that there is a court injunction restraining the workers from going on strike.
It also pointed out that the Federal Government was still negotiating with the unions with a view to resolving the contending issues.
The statement read: “Sequel to the call by the Labour Unions for workers to embark on industrial action from Monday, 28th September 2020, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) wishes to inform all public servants that the Federal Government team is currently engaging with the Labour Unions with a view to resolving all contentious issues and avert the planned industrial action”.
It stated further, “it is important to note that there is a court injunction granted by the National Industrial Court (Suit No. NICN/ABJ/253/2020) on 24th September, 2020 restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria from embarking on any form of industrial action pending the hearing and determination of a Motion on Notice”.
“Accordingly, all officers on Grade Level 12 and above and those on essential services are hereby strongly advised to be at work to perform their official duties”, the government statement directed
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