1. BIODUN AKOMOLAFE

After a decade of struggle to unionise workers in Arik Air,

 the airline has finally succumbed to pressure from three leading industry unions and allowed its workers to  be unionised into the unions.

The struggle became successful over the weekend  with the inauguration of  the executive members in the airline.

It was learnt that the inauguration which took place at the airline’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos at the weekend, saw hundreds of the airline’s staff joining the three unions.

The unions are the Air Traffic Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria(ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers(NAAPE)and National Union of Air Transport Employees(NUATE).

Speaking at the inauguration of the new members including the executives, NAAPE’s Assistant General Secretary, Organising, NAAPE, Comrade Femi Ajagbe, said the development signified new beginning not just in the airline, but in the industry at large.

He said that the unions would ensure that the welfare of members are not taken for granted and equally promised to support the airline in its developmental plans.

According to him, “It is really a welcome development for us to have members in Arik Air. Arik Air is the biggest airline in the industry with the highest number of staff, but in the technical department and support staff.”

He continued, “Our major aim is to grow the industry, ensure that workers welfares are well taken care of while we will also ensure that the airline continues to grow and remain in business.”

He disclosed that with this inauguration, Arik Air became the first indigenous airline to have its staff join the unions, adding that prior to the swearing-in of members, it was a really tug-of-war between the parties involved as the unions had over the years pressed for unionisation in the airline and others and that these requests had often been turned down.

Ajagbe further hinted that plans have reached an advanced stage to equally inaugurate members in Dana Air, Air Peace, Firstnation, Med-View and a few other airlines and organisations in the industry.

Recalled that attempts by aviation unions in the past failed because the management of the airline at that time that did not buy the idea of the airline’s workers belonging to ATSSSAN, NAAAPE and NUATE frustrated the efforts of the unions.