Aviation unions threaten to shut airspace on Monday

THREE aviation unions – Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) – yesterday served a notice to shut the Nigerian airspace beginning from May 20.
The unions said their planned action is to protest the failure of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to address issues bordering on new salary scale.
Their threat came ahead of the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued to NAMA on the vexed issue, which expires next Monday.
A bulletin jointly issued by the unions to the workers, advised them to immediately embark on strike until all issues raised with the NAMA are resolved.
The bulletin was signed by Olayinka Abioye (ATSSSAN), Aba Ocheme (NAAPE) and Odinika Igbokwe (NUATE).
The union leaders also expressed bitterness over NAMA’s failure to invite them for dialogue since the ultimatum was issued. They also raised concerns over the non-payment of 13-month areas that have accrued on the new salary scale.
On May 6, the unions wrote a letter to NAMA’s Managing Director, Nnamdi Udoh, to immediately resolve all issues raised by the workers.