Aviation unions protesting against non-payment of staff salaries since April have shut down the Lagos operations of Arik Air.
The unions included the National Union of Air Transport Employees and Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria.
According to them, the non-payment started after the company placed 90 per cent of the workforce on compulsory leave and other “anti-labour practices”.
Chairman, ATSSSAN, Arik Air Branch Innocent Atasie told newsmen on Monday that the workers resolved to shut down Arik operations nationwide when all efforts made to resolve the problem failed.
The unions’ demands included payment of outstanding salaries arrears, signing of conditions of service, remittance of pension, tax, and statutory deductions to the appropriate authorities, and to resolve other anti-labour issues.
Atasie said the unions also wanted the immediate review of all employee remunerations which had remained stagnant since the inception of Arik Air over 10 years ago.
Arik Air management had on September 13 sought for the intervention of the Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika over the planned industrial action by unions.
