August 23, (THEWILL) – The minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has said, that for a critical sector like aviation to grow, there must be constant industrial harmony at the forefront of labour activities in the country
Addressing participants at a 2 day strategic stakeholders retreat in Owerri, Imo state, and organised by the joint aviation trade unions forum (JATUF) with its theme of the retreat “Harnessing the Gains of Industrial Harmony in the Aviation Sector” Sirika commended the commitment of the current leaders of the various Unions to the entrenchment of good industrial relations, believing in gains derivable therefrom.
Sirika, represented by Director of Press in the Ministry, Dr James Odaudu, said good industrial relation helps in effective utilisation of man, money, and material while improved employee morale, industrial peace, recognition of employee’s interest and reconciliation of employer’s and employee objectives and interest, increased production with minimum wastage of resources.
According to the minister, the roles which trade unions play are influenced by their own characteristics as much as by their environment adding that above all, trade unions perform various roles that are very significant in filling important gaps in the Nigerian industrial environment.
“One important role of labour union is the effective promotion of collective bargaining agreement. In every industrial and economic setting, trade unions constitute an element of fundamental importance to collective bargaining, which is vital for industrial peace and harmony. Every labor union in Nigeria sees this as a major role they are expected to carry out”
According to the minister, labour unions in the sector have continued to play their roles effectively and have been yielding positive results for both government and workers.
“In Nigerian aviation sector, i dare say that the various labour unions have tried to play this role effectively. This role enables labour union to ensure that cordial and good understanding between employers and employees could be established in workplace and leads to a harmonious and conducive working environment. It is such environment that results to higher organisational and individual productivity. This role helps to safeguard organisational stability, growth, and leadership”
Sirika urged Trade Unions to always strive to create level playgrounds for all members to take part in the decision-making machineries urging that they must present a strong united front since multiple unions dilute the power of unions and reduces their effectiveness.
“Like in other sectors, the challenge of poor and non-proactive leadership has contributed to lack of trust by members and wrong strategies by union leaders in addressing the myriads of issues that regularly call for attention. Unions should therefore ensure that only qualified, tested, and trusted leaders who are truly workers, should be voted into leadership positions at the local, state, and national level. It is only leaders with integrity that will have the courage to face employers objectively and call their members to order when things go wrong”
He called for union leaders to be properly trained and educated to know the basic labour laws to plan their actions within the confine of the laws to avoid pursuing shadows while leaving the substance especially during collective bargaining and conflict resolution engagements.
The minister assured that government will continue to support the involvement of union leaders and workers in the policy and decision-making processes to ensure that when issues arise at the workplace between managers and the employee, union representatives remain the channels to secure “win-win” situations in which both sides feel as if they each attained something from the deal.
Sirika noted that aviation development has entered the critical stage of the implementation of roadmap and all hands on deck to ensure its success stressing that only an environment of industrial harmony can guarantee that
In his message, the Chairman of JATUF Comrade Ahmadu Illitrus said all the unions in the industry have remained united for the overall development of the aviation industry
Ahmadu, who was represented by Comrade Abednego Galadima thanked the aviation Minister for the retreat adding that it has given the unions the opportunity to rub minds with a view to finding solutions to myriads of problems in the sector
He noted that harmonious working condition can be achieved through hard work by workers adding that as unions they will continue to seek the understanding of the employers to see unions as partners in progress.
According to Ahmadu, everybody will benefit when there is industrial harmony between labour and government by so doing, building mutual trust among the unions
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.
