BASL Accuses ATSSSAN Of Illegal Action
Bi-courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) says the shutdown of Murtala Muhammed Airport2 in protest and preventing BASL workers and travellers from using the terminal, which happened today is illegal.
A statement signed by BASL’s Head, Corporate Communications, Oluwatosin Onalaja reads: “Contrary to laid down principles of industrial relations and in total violation of the laws of Nigeria, our Terminal was shut down at 2:30 AM on 1st November, 2022 by Airport Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN). There was no proper notice of this damaging behaviour.
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.
On being made aware of a court order issued by the National Industrial Court on 31st October, 2022, the Unions disregarded the order and continues to lock up our premises and disturbing the operations of the Terminal in a clear violation of the court order. This is a recipe for anarchy.
We remain very law-abiding citizens and use this medium to apologise to all our clients and stakeholders for the totally unacceptable behaviour of the Unions.”
