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.
Source: The nation
