Strike: NAHCO Engages Unions, Stakeholders While NASS Committee Would Engage Management

Nahco Aviance says it is engaging the labour unions and bringing to an end the disruption in flight services occasioned by the industrial action embarked upon by a section of its staff.
In a statement in Lagos today, NAHCO acknowledged that some of its clients were being put through a difficult situation by the insistence of some staff to embark on strike action despite a subsisting order of court which restrained them from doing so.
“We regret all the inconveniences,” the Group Executive Director, Dr. Olusola Obabori said, adding that the company was already engaging the Unions and other stakeholders and are positive the situation would be resolved within hours.
He said, “We understand the power of negotiation. The company which has arguably the best welfare package among the local players in the aviation industry will do all that is absolutely necessary to make its workforce happy even as it delights its customers.”
“This situation would be resolved speedily as it is detrimental to the staff, the company and its esteemed clients.”
It would be recalled that the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) last week gave a five – day notice of strike to NAHCO management citing slow progress in negotiation for salary review. The company which just promoted about 2,000 members of its workforce asked that accelerated negotiation be continued in February to enable the company stabilize from the financial effect of the recent promotions. Undaunted, the unions gave the notice of strike prompting the management of the company to seek for court intervention to prevent the industrial action while negotiation proceeds in a serene and conducive atmosphere.
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahcoaviance) is West Africa’s leading ground handling service provider with presence in all major Nigerian Airports. Founded in December 1979, the company has since grown into a multi – billion naira company with diversified investments in energy, logistics and development of a free trade zone. This has led to the establishment of Nahco Free Zone (NFZ), Mainland Cargo Options Limited (MCO) and Nahco Energy Power and Infrastructure (EPI).
Meanwhile, the Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Honourable Nnolim Nnaji has assured striking NAHCO workers that his Committee would reach out to the management to see how their grievances could be urgently addressed.
He called for restraints over the on-going industrial dispute between the management and urged the management of the ground handling company to immediately enter into dialogue with the leadership of the union to avert further disruption of flight operations across the country.
He equally appealed to the union to douse its agitation and show concern for the pains the action would bring on the innocent Nigerian travellers both locally and internationally.
Honourable Nnaji who represents Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives reminded the workers that their downing tools at this time the elections were already close could cause severe consequences to campaigns and movements of sensitive materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The workers’ strike has already started taking it’s toll on the industry as heavy flight delays were already set in both on local and international.