NLC Urges Aero Airline To Recall 655 Sacked Workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the management of Aero Contractor airline to recall its 655 workers sacked on March 17.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Emma Ugboja, the Congress’ Acting General Secretary, on Sunday in Lagos.

The statement urged the airline to reinstate the workers and reopen their offices immediately to forestall industrial crisis.

The NLC said it would not hesitate to take solidarity action in defence of the workers if the airline management refuses to reverse its decision.

“We are surprised that despite the opportunities provided by the existence of the trade unions in the aviation sector, the management decided to ignore all industrial relations mechanisms by dismissing the workers.”

The statement said that before the management dismissed the workers, it had approached the National Industrial Court for an injunction that would give it the opportunity to take the anti workers decision.

The NLC said that the unions involved are the National Union of Air Transport Employees and the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.

It said that the basic intention of the management was to circumscribe workers rights to belong to the unions as well as make the entire workforce casuals.

The NLC stated in the statement that the decision was unacceptable and gave the assurance that it would do everything possible to defend the rights of the workers.

The statement applauded the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ground the airline, saying that all employees of airlines all over the world are key to security and safety of flights. (NAN)