The Main entrance to MMA2 terminal blocked by the unions with their vehicles
Hundreds of air passengers across the Nigeria suffered flight delays and cancellations as no domestic airline was allowed to operate in and out of Murtala Muhammed Airport domestic terminal two popularly known as (MMA2), Lagos today, following the picketing of the terminal by aviation unions in the country.
The unions, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSA N) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), are picketing the terminal over the sacking of its members for unionism by the management of Bi- Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), the terminal operator.
On arrival at the terminal, African Business Travel News (ABTN) observed that passengers who had arrived the airport terminal to board 6:00am flights out of the terminal were shocked to meet the entry and exit points of the terminal barricaded by unionists who were singing solidarity songs while displaying many placards and T-Shirts with different inscriptions such: “We the victimized workers of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited Say no to slavery; Say no to victimisation, Say no to injustice, Say no sexual harassment; Say Yes to Unionism; Yes to good working conditions, Yes to job security” to condemning anti labour practices of the management of MMA2.
The inabilities of the airlines such as Dan Air, Aero Contractors, Azman, Medview Air to operate from and into the terminal, caused many passengers at different routes the affected airlines operate to, to be stranded.
Besides aeronautical, personnel of service providers of non -aeronautical services such as banking, Bureau De Change, telecommunication, photography, mall, ticketing, medicals, pharmaceuticals etc were also denied access to their offices and desks by the protesting workers.
Our correspondent who visited the terminal as the protest progressed reported that the workers sacked by Bi- Courtney were seen dressed in lemon green T- Shirts with similar inscriptions.
The blockage of the entry and exit points of the terminal with the unions’ vehicles caused a heavy traffic gridlock along the link road between domestic and international wing of the nation’s busiest.
ABTN learnt that Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was superintending over a meeting to resolve the impasse between the unions and BASL.
Meanwhile BASL in a release, a copy of which was sent to ABTN late Tuesday night, claimed it has secured a court order restraining the unions from disrupting activities in the terminal.
The statement signed by spokesperson at MMA2, Steve Omolale reads: “A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an order restraining the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) from disrupting the operations of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2).
The court on yesterday Tuesday granted the order restraining the three unions from carrying out their threats of disrupting the activities of the terminal from this morning in the suit filed by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of MMA2.
The unions had given notice that they would disrupt operations at MMA2 from today, Wednesday over the disengagement of some workers of BASL who they said were disengaged for their alleged attempt to join them, but who the company said had attained retirement age or were found not to be diligent in their duties.
But a statement issued by BASL yesterday said, “we will like to bring it to the attention of the entire public that the Federal High Court in Lagos in suit number FHC/L/CS/16412/18 has granted an order restraining the unions from carrying out their threats of disrupting the activities of the terminal. Pursuit to this order, members if the unions found in the premises of MMA2 would be liable to trespass. We reserve our right under the law of Nigeria to deal with such person as a trespasser”.
BASL also assured customers and passengers of MMA2 that they will continue having seamless access to the facility.
The statement said: “BASL is fully aware of the plan by some unions in the aviation sector to disrupt the operations of MMA2 over our decision to disengage some employees. Disengaging the ex-employees had nothing to do with unionism, as we were not aware of this. In as much as we know that the unions have the right to protest without disturbing public peace and safety, we too reserve the right to ensure that our operations and services are not interrupted in any way whatsoever.
“Despite the fact that we have bent backwards, even beyond our contractual obligations, to resolve the matter of the ex-staff amicably, the unions are still adamant in their resolve to disrupt the operations of MMA2. Any attempt to carry out this lawless act despite the subsisting court order would be viewed seriously and considered as an act of economic sabotage targeting a concession which they constantly tried to truncate. And as a law-abiding corporate citizen, we will do everything possible within the ambit of the law to protect our facility.
“We wish to use this opportunity to assure our numerous customers, including all the airlines operating from our terminal, and the passengers that MMA2 will remain open for business, as every measure has been put in place to ensure that security and safety is maintained for the flying public.”
