Arik Air appeals to government to halt strike threats by staff

Two aviation unions, the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, and Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, had jointly written to all Arik Air workers on Friday, asked them to begin strike action today.
Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Chief Executive Officer of the airline called on the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika and Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to halt the strike. He said the airline “strongly believes that the threat of strike action without an exhaustive use of the various channels of engagement, discussion, consensus and understanding is faulty and unlikely to yield the best outcomes for staff, the company and its faithful passengers”. It further reads: “It is in fact an abuse of the position of union leadership as the issues in dispute cannot pass the test of fairness and only affect, in the short term, less than 20 staff out of a work force of over 1,600.
The dispute is over service conditions following the airline entering receivership.
Security advisory service Osprey has warned other carriers and operators to be aware of potential unrest at Lagos which could lead to delayed departures for flights. "Social unrest stemming from aviation worker group industrial action at or near airports in Nigeria is a possibility in the coming days. All forms of protests and demonstrations should be avoided as a precaution. Be prepared to extend accommodation and arrange ground transportation at short notice for crew unable to depart on schedule," it warned.

Nigeria's aviation minister Hadi Sirika asked to intervene in Arik strike threat (Image Newsline Nigeria)