November 02, (THEWILL) – Aviation union under the aegis of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ( ATSSSAN), has called off the strike which started early Tuesday morning, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2).
MMA2 is being managed by Bi-Courtney Services Limited (BASL)
The body had barricaded the MMA2 terminal, Lagos, over the sacking of 34 members of the union without following due process.
But less than 24 hours after the protest started, the union announced the cessation of the strike, following a truce reached by both parties.
A memo from ATSSSAN, to all its branches and other unions, who solidarised with it in the picketing of MMA2 stated that “the strike that was embarked upon today against the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, BASL, has been called off”
The memo, however, revealed that truce was brokered “at a meeting empanelled by the Ministry of Labour & Employment; Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN; Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA and Airport Security Agencies”.
According to the memo, the unions’ agreement to cease picketing is contingent on the acceptance by the concessionaire to the terminal, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd, BASL, “to recall the laid-off members of our union and an undertaking to pay their salaries”.
The leadership of ATSSSAN expressed gratitude to all the unions in the nation’s aviation industry, who stood by its members during the agitation for the protection of Nigerian workers as exemplified by those in the employment of BASL, managers of the MMA2 terminal.
“Your unquantified solidarity is genuinely appreciated”, the union added.
BASL, had earlier condemned the union’s action as illegal, stating that the strike is “contrary to laid down principles of industrial relations and in total violation of the laws of Nigeria”.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
