Unpaid Wages: Airports’ Unions Issue Ultimatum

Three workers unions in
the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa have given the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) a one month ultimatum to address some of the issues affecting the workers.
The workers under the aegis of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) jointly issued the ultimatum which expires ending of July  after a meeting of the workers in Port Harcourt last Wednesday.
The unions are demanding the payment of 27 percent balance of minimum wage alongside June salary, immediate release of all outstanding promotions, to ensure proper placement of all the newly recruited staff in accordance with civil service rules and schemes of service, ensure immediate payment of pensions and gratuities of all retired staff, amongst others.
Addressing the workers after the meeting, Chairman of ATSSSAN, Comrade Chinwendu Ametu said some of the issues had lasted for about two years or more unattended to by the management of FAAN.
Comrade Ametu disclosed that management had failed to pay attention to any of the issues, noting that the various unions at the national level had resolved to embark on an indefinite strike at the expiration of the ultimatum.
He averred that if management failed to address the demands of the workers’ the unions would have no choice than to declare an industrial dispute that may paralyse the air transport operations in Nigeria.
Reacting to the allegations of workers, the Head Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, Mr Ola Ogundolapo advised the workers to be patient with the authority as efforts were being made to respond to the demands.
“FAAN Management is passionately looking into all the demands of the workers and will come out with reasonable position, you know the demands are all encompassing, these issues have been there for some time now, the unions have made them known to the authority and management is up to its responsibilities, he said.
Mr Ogundolapo said the management considered the welfare of workers seriously and would not be insensitive to the demands of the workers in view of the cordial relationship that exist within the airport community.

L-R: Chief of Staff to the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Kabir Mohammed, Mrs Vivian Menyanga of the Training Department and Mr Emmanuel Chidera, Airport Operations Department, who were presented certificates by the Managing Director, FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma (2nd right), having graduated in Airport Management Professional Accreditation Programme which certifies them as airport managers.