The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE)

  • Sirika, 400 delegates for NUATE conference

    Minister of State Aviation Hadi Sirika, heads of aviation agencies and over four hundred delegates will converge on Asaba, Delta state capital for the national delegates’ conference of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).

    According to the general secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, the 10th quardrennial national delegates conference with its theme, ‘Public, private Partnership in aviation industry – Perspective from investors, labour and management’ will feature awards.

    Comrade Abioye explained that past leaders of the NUATE will be honoured including heads of aviation agencies for their contributions to the development of the sector.

    The conference according to him, will take place at Grand Hotel Asaba from Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 September 2018.

    Read Also: Sirika confirms date for national airline

    Hadi Sirika will be conferred with Aviation Minister of the decade award while five chief executives of the will be awarded Transformational Leadership.

    The Conference also marks the 40th anniversary of the birth of the Union which makes it the foremost trade union in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

    The chairman of the occasion is the Group Chairman, SIFAX Group, owners of Sahcol, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, MON supported by Captain Mshelia, MD/CEO Westlink Airlines

    The conference will also usher in new national executives that will steer the affairs of the union in the next four years.

    NUATE is a notable union in the aviation sector championing the cause of workers and an affiliate body of the the Nigeria Labour Congress.

  • Union shuts operations of Newrest Aviation Services at airport

    Union shuts operations of Newrest Aviation Services at airport

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE ) has for the second consecutive day shut down the operations of Newrest Aviation Services Limited at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The General Secretary of NUATE, Mr Olayinka Abioye, said that the workers’ action followed refusal of the in-flight catering services provider to allow the employees to belong to unions in the sector.

    Abioye told our reporters on Tuesday that Newrest ASL provides in-flight catering services to some foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.

    It also has lounges and restaurants at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Abioye said: “Before now, the workers belonged to a union in the hotel and hospitality sector, and overtime, they realised that they were not getting benefits from being members of the union.

    “They also took cognisance that since their work revolves round the aviation sector, they should belong to one of the unions in the sector.

    “They got in touch with us and we looked at their books and advised them accordingly.

    “So, they notified their former union individually as allowed by law that they wanted to leave and join unions in the aviation sector.”

    He said NUATE wrote the Newrest ASL informing the company that some of their employees had joined the association.

    Abioye said that the management, however, sought for clarification which led to a meeting between the parties and the Federal Ministry of Labour.

    He said the ministry urged NUATE to allow the workers to remain in the hospitality union, but the workers rejected the move.

    Abioye said the workers insisted that they wanted to belong to the aviation unions.

    According to him, the management thereafter made it compulsory for the workers to belong to the hospitality union and allegedly sacked those opposing the directive.

    “We have been dragging the issue for sometime before the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ); enough is enough.

    “So, the employees wrote two letters to the management.

    “They did not respond, which led to the shutting down of the company’ s operations since Monday,” Abioye said.

    NAN

  • NUATE commends airline for recalling 69 disengaged workers

    NUATE commends airline for recalling 69 disengaged workers

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE ) on Friday commended the management of Aero Contractors Limited for recalling 69 workers earlier declared redundant by the airline.

    Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, made this known in Lagos that the unions in the aviation sector were impressed by the efforts of the Aero management to reposition the airline.

    Abioye confirmed that 41 of the recalled workers were members of NUATE while the others belonged to the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria ( ATSSSAN ) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE ).

    He noted that the airline, under the management of Capt. Ado Sanusi, was being revived gradually after being taken over by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria ( AMCON ) due to its huge debt profile.

    According to him, when Sanusi came on board, over 600 Aero workers were declared redundant in March 2017 as a way of keeping the airline afloat, despite opposition from the unions.

    Abioye said the management had, however, continued to forge ahead, culminating in the recent successful conduct of C-Check on Boeing B737-500 at the airline’s maintenance facility at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

    He said that based on this, the management had started recalling some of the disengaged workers to the delight of the unions.

    “The management, in its wisdom and which we appreciate, have decided that those who are currently on contract will be reintegrated into the system as if they have never been declared redundant.

    “The second leg of that is that a sizeable number of those still outside will be recalled, and by March, another sizeable number will be recalled.

    “This tentatively means that over two-third of the disengaged workers would have been recalled into Aero, which is a good one for us,” Abioye said.

    He said the unions and the management would continue to work together as responsible social partners to stabilise and sustain Aero Contractors, so that the airline could reclaim its rightful place as the number one domestic airline.

    NAN

  • Aviation union grounds operations of Kenyan Airways 

    Aviation union grounds operations of Kenyan Airways 

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE) on Tuesday grounded the operations of Kenyan Airways at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos  following prolonged disagreement between the union and the airline management over failure to implement welfare programme for workers.

    Placard carrying members of the Union in the early hours stormed the counters of the airline at the terminal of the Lagos Airport to prevent Kenyan Airways from carrying out any operations.

    The union said it embarked on the action due to failure on the part of the airline to resolve lingering issues.

    As evidence its seriousness, members of the union hoisted Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) flag at the check in counters of Kenyan Airways to shut down its operations.

    Last week, NUATE gave the airline an ultimatum to comply with its demands.

    The union made this known in an online statement signed by the General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka OluAbioye

    In a statement titled, “Notice Of Industrial Action Against The Management of Kenya Airways, Nigeria” the union stated that it had  waited patiently over the months for Kenya Airways, Nairobi management  to respond positively to the fundamental welfare demands of its Nigerian employees and implement the collective bargaining agreement with the union but that the airline has refused to respond.

    Abioye added that as a result of the refusal of Kenya Airways to address the issues raised, “Notice is hereby given by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) to all intending passengers on KQ that with effect from 1200midnight of Tuesday 5th. December 2017, all operations of Kenya Airways in Nigeria shall be grounded.”

    “We hereby appeal to all intending passengers and other airport users and partners to bear with the workers and its Union as they embark on this industrial action for the safety and security of all parties, as you all know that a “disgruntled worker is an accident waiting to happen”, which we intend to prevent,” The union stated.

    The union stated that the industrial action would be indefinite until the management of the airline address the issues and do the needful.

    According to NUATE, “Nigerian worker’s patience in Kenya Airways has been exhausted and they cannot continue to suffer at the expense of certain other persons.”

    The union solicited the cooperation and support of security agencies as the union embark on the industrial action, bearing in mind that an injury to one is an injury to others, while an injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.

     

  • Sacked Aero workers yet to get severance packages – Union

    Sacked Aero workers yet to get severance packages – Union

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Sunday said the more than 600 employees sacked by Aero Contractors Ltd. in March were yet to get their severance packages.

    Mr Olayinka Abioye, the General Secretary, NUATE confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    NAN reports that the airline, which is presently being managed by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), had sacked more than 600 of its workers representing 60 per cent of its workforce.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Capt. Ado Sanusi, had assured the affected workers that they would be paid their pensions and gratuities.

    Abioye, however, noted that the unions in the sector had met with the airline’s management to see how the workers could be paid all their entitlements.

    “The truth of the matter is that none of them have been paid the negotiated redundancy benefits but they have received their gratuities which were ware-housed by Stanbic IBTC.

    “We just had a meeting with the CEO, and arrangements are in top gear to ensure that no matter how little it is, that whatever the management has been able to raise, will be disbursed to the beneficiaries.

    “Let us begin this process of payment to rekindle hope in others that management is desirous of paying them their entitlements and this will be done as quickly as possible,’’ he said.

    Abioye also confirmed that the management of the airline had reabsorbed some of its technical staff, following the approval given to it recently by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to carry out C-Check on series of Boeing 737 aircraft.

    “The positive side of it is that Aero management has expanded their Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and they are expecting more monies from there when third party airlines bring their machines there.

    “This is a good thing for us because even when that was going on, the management has been able to recall some of our people in technical department and given them contract employment.’’

    According to him, the recalled workers have been employed with the proviso that immediately there is a silver lining in the sky that some of them will be reconverted to permanent employees.

    “So, there is hope in this direction which therefore means that the number of those declared redundant will lessen which will enable management to focus on only those affected and pay them as soon as possible,’’ he said.

    However, one of the affected workers told NAN on the condition of anonymity that it was unfortunate that the management had reneged on its promise to pay the severance packages.

    “Most of us that were declared redundant by Aero management are yet to be paid our severance packages months after.

    “AMCON management is not willing to pump money into the airline and without the injection of funds by AMCON, the present management can’t get resources to carry out most of the projects they already mapped out.

    “AMCON and the management took the right decision to allow the airline to continue operation, but it is unfortunate that they don’t want to pay us the severance packages as promised earlier.’’

    Reacting, the media consultant to Aero Contractors, Mr Simon Tumba, told NAN in a telephone interview that he was not aware if the affected workers had been paid or not.

     

  • Airports concession: NASS to meet Sirika, aviation unions on Wednesday

    Airports concession: NASS to meet Sirika, aviation unions on Wednesday

    The National Assembly ( NASS ) on Monday summoned State Minister for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika and other stakeholders in the industry over the concession of four major airports in the country.

    The General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE ), Mr Olayinka Abioye, confirmed the development in Lagos.

    The Federal Government plans to concession Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt Airports to enable them meet international standard.

    “The NASS has invited us for a meeting on Wednesday. It is a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

    “They have invited the minister, the unions and other civil society groups to deliberate on issues surrounding the concession of the airports,’’ Abioye said.

    He also noted that the unions had suspended their 15 days ultimatum over the concession issues following the intervention of the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige.

    Abioye said: “the minister of labour has intercepted that ultimatum. He invited us to Abuja for a meeting last week including the minister of aviation.

    “Each party laid bare their own side of the story and the minister has now agreed that workers and the unions will be fully carried along because we also alleged that we were not in the know of so many things he was doing.

    “He has promised that they will expand the scope of their operations and carry everybody along.’’

    The NUATE secretary general said at the meeting, Sirika explained that the issue of concession was his own idea but that the transaction advisers who had been appointed would determine the type of models for the concession process.

    According to him, the unions were informed that the three of the transaction advisers were from the United Kingdom, one from the United States, and one from Nigeria to serve as local content partner.

    NAN

  • Aviation unions, FAAN workers protest concession of Lagos, Abuja airports

    Aviation unions, FAAN workers protest concession of Lagos, Abuja airports

    Aviation unions and workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Tuesday staged a protest to express their disapproval over plans by government to concession the Lagos and Abuja Airports.

    Scores of FAAN workers stormed the Freedom Square leading to the entrance of the authority’s headquarters to draw attention to what they described as illegal selling of the airports to people who are unknown to workers.

    The protest came just as there was a battle for supremacy among three aviation unions: Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).

    The friction was occasioned by alleged inadequate representation among the unions over who should spearhead the protest.

    Addressing workers, ATSSSAN National President, Comrade Illitrus Ahmadu said the workers were opposed to the concession of airports because the template is not clear to them and the parameters used by government.

    Ahmadu said the workers will use every instrument at their disposal to battle government to frustrate the concession of airports.

    He said the unions must be united to protect their collective interest of protecting their jobs.
    Also speaking, General Secretary of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Olayinka Abioye said the unions will mobilize to frustrate airports concession moves by government.

    He said government needs to engage the unions before government could consider the concession of the airports.

    Abioye said issues that will arise from the concession of the airports including job losses should be properly looked into.

    He said the minister of state, aviation, Hadi Sirika should demonstrate transparency on the concession of airports.

    He said FAAN has 64 legal cases over concessions that have not been resolved, yet government wants to go ahead to concession the airports.

    He vowed that despite approval by government, aviation unions will mobilize against the concession of airports.

    Abioye alleged that Sirika has not shown transparency in his handling of issues in the industry.

    He canvassed corporatization or commercialisations of FAAN, to form airport companies to bring about effective airport systems.

    He said the airports could only run effectively until officials of the ministry stop unbridled interference in the activities of aviation agencies.

  • Airports concession may not be feasible until 2019 – NUATE

    Airports concession may not be feasible until 2019 – NUATE

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Tuesday said the Federal Government’s plan to concession the four major airports in the country might not be feasible until 2019.

    Mr. Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that all thorny issues surrounding the concession must be addressed before the exercise.

    NAN reports that the government had recently appointed transaction advisers to midwife the concession of the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports.

    Abioye, however, faulted the appointment of the transaction advisers, noting that the aviation unions were not carried along before the announcement was made.

    “What happened is that the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, unilaterally made the appointment without recourse to the committee he set up for the same purpose, which had some of our members.

    “The committee is yet to submit its report; so, we were surprised when the announcement was made,” he said.

    Abioye maintained that the concession of the airports would lead to job losses for thousands of their members, hence the stiff opposition from the unions.

    “Anytime there is a concession, people are bound to lose their jobs.

    “What the unions are saying is that there should be dialogue between us and the government on how to protect the interest of these workers.

    “We believe that these issues must be addressed before the concession; and from our projections, this could take even up to two years. So, that should be sometime in 2019,”he said.

    Abioye noted that the plan by the government to set up another national carrier would not work until it settled the N78 billion debt owed workers of the defunct Nigerian Airways.

    “You cannot be talking of another national carrier when workers of Nigerian Airways have not been settled.

    “That is the position of the unions, as far as this issue is concerned,’’ he said.

  • Aviation unions disrupt Arik Air operations 

    Aviation unions disrupt Arik Air operations 

    … As management vows to take measures against illegal interference

     

     

    Three aviation unions comprising of United Labour Congress (ULC), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) on Thursday disrupted the operations of Arik Air.

    The union members arrived the headquarters of the airline as early as 4.00 am to literally to ground the operations of the airline.

    The union members carried out the picketing exercise despite   heavy police presence barricading entrance into the headquarters of the airline.

    A source hinted that under the instruction of the United Labour Congress, oil marketers were directed not to supply Jet A1 (Aviation fuel) to the airline as part of measures to press home their demands.

    The unions are picketing operations of the troubled Arik Air over the failure of the airline’s management to re-instate sacked union leaders and several other issues in the airline.

    Meanwhile, new management of Arik Air has threatened to take every legal measure at its disposal to stop any illegal interference on its operations.

    The new management of Arik Air while condemning the picketing of the airline, by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE),  Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and  National Association of Aircraft Pilot and Engineers (NAAPE),   described it as illegal.

    A statement by the media consultant to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON on Arik Air, Simon Tumba stated that the motive of the picketing is unclear to management as the action of the unions is illegal.

    In his words: “It has come to the attention of the Arik Management, (under Receivership), that the Lagos State branch of National Union of Air Transport Employees  (NUATE),  Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and  National Association of Aircraft Pilot and Engineers (NAAPE)  has directed their members to picket Arik airline.

    We hasten to say that the motive of this picketing is unclear to Management and their action is therefore illegal”.

    Tumba explained further that: “It is a well-known fact that Arik is under Receivership following various challenges experienced over the last few years, which include delays and cancellations of flights, delays in payment of salaries and huge debts to trade creditors and suppliers, bad corporate governance and a host of others”.

    According to Tumba “In exercise of its statutory powers under the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) act a Receiver was appointed over the affairs of Arik Air on February 6, 2017. With the assistance of AMCON, salaries are being paid including backlogs, on time performance has improved from 15 percent to average of 80percent and fuel suppliers that hitherto quit doing business with Arik are happily doing business with the airline.

    “For the record, the management had engaged with its staff and is convinced that there is no reason to picket our airline, which is facing challenging times.

    “The focus of the Arik Air management is to stabilise the operations of the airline and enhance its ability to play a positive role in Nigeria’s aviation industry. Therefore the Management of the airline advises the unions to steer clear from undermining the operations of Arik Air. Management would take every legal measure at its disposal to stop any illegal interference with its operations.”

     

     

  • Sacked workers: Union threatens to disrupt Aero Contractors’ operations

    Sacked workers: Union threatens to disrupt Aero Contractors’ operations

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has threatened to disrupt Aero Contractors’ operations by Monday, if the airline refuses to recall over 700 workers sacked recently.

    Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, issued the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday.

    Abioye described the sack of the workers as an exercise in “bad faith” to the industry and the country in general.

    “By Monday, the whole world will know what is really happening in Aero Contractors. We are going to shut down the operations of the airline.

    “There is no place in the world where people will work for 20 to 25 years and you will disengage them and ask them to go home empty-handed.

    “This has never happened before, so it will not happen in Aero Contractors,” he said.

    Abioye accused Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) of not acting in the best interest of Aero contractors and its workers since the takeover in 2013.

    He assured that NUATE, alongside other aviation unions, would ensure that the affected workers were paid their entitlements and benefits before the airline could dismiss them.

    NAN reports that the airline, which is under the management of the (AMCON), had sacked more than 700 workers, representing 60 per cent of its workforce.

    The Media Consultant to the airline, Mr Simon Tumba, who confirmed the development in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos, said the workers would be paid their pension and gratuity.

    Tumba explained further that letters of redundancy were issued to the affected employees during the week.