The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
has given Air Peace, Bristow Helicopters and Turkish Airlines two weeks to
reinstate all their sacked workers.
This was disclosed in a statement
signed by Ayuba Wabba, president of NLC, on Friday.
According to Wabba, it was
insensitive for the companies to sack the workers considering the “traumatic”
effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“NLC condemns and rejects the
recent sack of 100 pilots by Air Peace, 69 pilots by Bristow Helicopters and
the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) executives working with
Turkish Air,” the statement read.
“We call on the management of
Turkish Airlines, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all the sacked
workers within two weeks.
“It is very traumatic for workers
who are still reeling from psychological and socio-economic difficulties
imposed by the recent lockdown measures and are just savouring the joy of being
able to work again to be slammed with sack letters.
“The sack of Turkish Airlines,
Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters workers is highly insensitive, callous, and
unjust.
“During the good times, workers
were the hands that created the profit and wealth. During bad times, we expect
businesses to repay the faith and commitment of the workforce.
“As was done to the financial
sector, we urge government to immediately release palliative support to the
aviation industry.
“Clearly, we have a bumpy road
ahead of us as the nation and the world recovers from the fallout of COVID-19.
Workers are ready to play their part towards the restoration of full
productivity and industrial normalcy but that can only be achieved in an atmosphere
of mutual respect and sensitivity. Nothing else would suffice.”
The NLC also called for
understanding on the part of workers, while urging them to take the issue of
their rights seriously.
“Workers should insist on their
rights to join unions. This is a safety valve. No employer is allowed by our
laws to intimidate workers out of their constitutionally guaranteed rights to
join trade unions,” Wabba said.
“As agreed between labour and
employers’ association, social dialogue should be used to resolve industrial
concerns instead of the current resort to unilateralism.”
The statement added that NLC will
not hesitate to mobilise the weight of the entire Nigerian workforce to the
premises of Turkish Airlines, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters, if its demands
are not met.
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