In order to stop the airlines from running their early morning flights, the union, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), reportedly took positions at the critical entrances leading to the terminal building as early as 6am.
There was a massive disruption of flights and scores of passengers are stranded at the Murtala
Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) in Lagos Tuesday following the picketing
of the facility by aviation unions.
The MMA2 is a private terminal operated by Bi-Courtney
Aviation Services Limited (BASL).
The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria (ATSSSAN) had threatened a showdown with the management of the private
terminal over the sack of 37 staff members, saying 34 of them are members of
the union.
The protesting union had faulted the decision of BASL to
sack their members last Friday with “ordinary e-mails” sent to their different
boxes without regard to the rule of law after they were first sent on
compulsory leave of absence for 10 days.
But the management of BASL has described the action of the
unions, which disrupted flights in the terminal as illegal.
In a surprise move, ATSSSAN members, joined in solidarity by
other aviation unions, stormed the MMA2 terminal early in the morning and barricaded
the entrance, preventing many passengers from going to board their flights.
Hundreds of passengers were stranded as all the morning
flights scheduled to operate from the terminal were disrupted.
Many airlines including Ibom Air, Max Air, Azman Air,
ValueJet, United Nigeria, Air Peace, operating from the terminal were affected.
The airlines had to relocate to the General Aviation
Terminal (GAT) or the MMA1 to operate the day’s flights amidst grumbling from
stranded passengers.
A passenger who identified herself as Lolu said she decided
to reschedule her flight due to the confusion occasioned by the picketing.
Deputy General Secretary, ATSSSAN, Comrade Frances Akinjole,
who spoke with our correspondent said the union would fight on until the
affected staff were re-engaged or treated fairly by the MMA2 management.
He accused BASL of always disregarding labour laws,
recalling the 2018 sack of 29 of its members by the same management without due
process.
However, we gathered that the unions might suspend the
action as the management of BASL has commenced negotiations with the protesting
workers.
Meanwhile, the BASL in a statement said the shutdown of the
terminal was contrary to laid down principles of industrial relations and in
total violation of the laws of Nigeria.
According to it, there was no proper notice of the action,
which it described as “damaging.”
Head, Corporate Communications, Oluwatosin Onalaja said,
“The union brought in members who are not employees of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services
Limited (BASL) to prevent the employees of BASL from working.
“This is also an unlawful action. Our relationship is with union members that
are our employees and not external members.
This is clearly an illegal action and continues to set a bad precedent
in Nigeria.
“The alleged cause of
this industrial action is our decision to lay off some of our staff who we
consider unproductive. It is our
inherent right to manage our business in the most prudent manner and we should
not be intimidated by external forces as is being done in this case.
“The unions are also claiming that we should apply the
conditions of service, which we signed in June 2021 retrospectively. Again, this is contrary to established rules
of industrial relations and the laws of Nigeria.”
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