Flight operations involving Air Peace were disrupted in Lagos and Abuja on Tuesday after aviation unions commenced picketing of the airline over alleged anti-union practices and the non-remittance of a five per cent Ticket Sales Charge.
The action was carried out by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, with the backing of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
The unions had earlier warned domestic airlines that they would take industrial action against operators accused of failing to remit the five per cent ticket sales charge collected from passengers for aviation agencies.
The labour groups also accused some airlines of preventing their employees from joining trade unions freely, alleging that workers were afraid to indicate their interest in union membership because of possible discrimination or victimisation.
According to the unions, they had given the affected airlines several opportunities to resolve the issues before resorting to picketing.
In a statement, the unions said, “Making unfettered unionisation of staff in their organisation impossible after several efforts by the aviation unions” was one of the major grievances against the airlines.
They also demanded that airlines communicate clearly to their workers that they were free to belong to unions of their choice without fear of sanctions.
“We want unequivocal declarations through circulars and other direct means of communication to their staff that they are free to join unions of their choice without fear of victimisation,” the unions stated.
On the five per cent charge, the labour groups alleged that some airlines had collected the money from passengers but failed to remit it to the appropriate aviation agencies.
They said the alleged withholding of the funds had affected the implementation of negotiated conditions of service and collective bargaining agreements for workers in the agencies.
The unions further demanded the immediate transfer of the outstanding funds, describing them as essential to the effective operation of the aviation agencies.
“We want an immediate remittance of the seized operational funds of the aviation agencies to allow for the implementation of the conditions of service of our members in the various aviation agencies,” they said.
The dispute has reportedly left some passengers stranded as the picketing affected Air Peace operations at the airports.
The unions and the Airline Operators of Nigeria have been at odds over the five per cent charge, with labour insisting that airlines must remit funds already collected from passengers.
Attempts to obtain a response from Air Peace were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, with messages sent to the airline’s spokesperson yet to receive a response.
More details are expected as the situation develops.
