There are indications that NewrestASL may record loss of multi-million dollar catering contracts if the picketing of its facilities at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria is not brought to an end soon.
This is just as the industrial action today enters its tenth day unbroken.
Unconfirmed reports however claimed that the company which provides catering services on many foreign flights that operate from Nigeria has already lost the contract of a gulf airline while others are considering review of their contracts.
A source close to the company which spoke with africanbusinesstravel.com.ng under the condition of anonymity, said the Middle East based airline decided to terminate its contract with NewrestASL after it could not get catering supplies for two consecutive days . It was also learnt that ASL did not inform the airlines of possible picketing of its facilities when the ultimatum given by the union was almost expiring.
A union leader who was contacted on the authenticity of the cancellation of the contract said it could not be confirmed by they too have heard something similar to that.
“We cannot confirm if NewrestASL has lost any contract since we started our industrial action on the company. Though, we are hearing something similar to that; but we cannot confirm it even as the management of the company has not open a line of dialogue with the union,” the union leader said
The union demanded that NewrestASL should respect the constitution of Nigeria Section 40 by recalling the sacked union leaders in the company who the union alleged ASL management has been victimizing by denying them of the benefits after they were relieved of their appointments 18 months ago.
Speaking on the picketing, General Secretary of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Ocheme Aba insisted the picketing continues since the union has not achieved its aims. Ocheme also alleged that the management of ASL has not spoken with the leadership of the union. The union leader said the union will continue to escalate the action even as he boasted that Lagos state branch of Nigeria Labour Congress is with aviation union.
Also speaking at the rally, General Secretary Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NURW) Segun Esan who described the industrial action as a direct response to a breach as it concerns the welfare and wellbeing of the workers, said is union was at the rally “in solidarity with NUATE to address an issue, on which “the Management is recalcitrant”.
In her statement NLC Chairman, Lagos state branch, Agnes Funmj Sessi said, once we’re united, we can never be defeated” Sessi added, ”we will never give up until we achieve our aims as she requested that the management must treat the workers right”.
