The Workers’ Rights Campaign has commended aviation workers and their unions for what it described as a successful warning strike to demand respect for their right to organise and belong to trade unions.
The strike, which commenced on Tuesday, August 11, shut down major airlines before it was suspended following the intervention of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority as a mediator.
The development came after the WRC had earlier backed the industrial action, accusing the majority of domestic airlines of “brutally” violating aviation workers’ right to join trade unions.
The campaign had said only Arik Air and Aero Contractors had unions among airlines operating across Nigerian cities, adding that unionisation in the two airlines was achieved through “years of tenacious struggle.”
In its latest statement, signed by its Deputy Chairperson, Kelvin Ayemhenre, and Secretary, Bàbá Ayé, the WRC said airlines had attempted to discredit the unions following the strike, while some broadcasters called for a ban on strikes on security grounds.
The group, however, maintained that the airlines were responsible for the disruption, accusing them of repeatedly frustrating efforts by unions to organise workers.
“They have rebuffed all earlier efforts of the unions to organise workers. They even shunned a meeting called by the NCAA last week to reach a peaceful solution,” the statement said.
The WRC said only two out of more than a dozen Nigerian airlines allowed unions, describing the situation as a violation of workers’ rights under Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution.
It also cited International Labour Organisation Conventions 87 and 98, which protect freedom of association and collective bargaining and have been ratified by Nigeria.
The campaign alleged that unions had faced “union-busting tactics” while attempting to organise workers across the industry, noting that airline operators themselves were organised under the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
The WRC also rejected Air Peace’s claim that its employees had chosen not to join unions.
“We reject Air Peace’s claim that employees chose not to join unions; management has discouraged union membership by threatening dismissal. This is a classic union-busting tactic,” it said.
The group urged the NCAA to require airlines to respect workers’ organising and membership rights, saying unions should accept nothing less.
It also commended the Trade Union Congress for supporting the strike and called on the Nigeria Labour Congress to do the same in the push for full unionisation of aviation workers.
“Onward forward to victory!” the WRC said.
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