Count Us Out Of ULC Strike, Says Aircraft Pilots, Engineers
The United Labour Congress (ULC) has said that it will go ahead with its planned nationwide strike action on Monday despite warnings from the Federal Government over the action.
The ULC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who disclosed this to journalists in Lagos added that the industrial action became imperative because the Federal Government has failed to meet their demands.
He said, “This course of action, though very painful to us at this time, remains the only alternative available to us as we have exhausted all known peaceful processes towards an amicable resolution of the dispute.
“We therefore call on all genuine patriots to join hands in solidarity with us to urge federal government and State Governors to be kind enough to the meet demands of Nigerian workers.”
He explained that the ULC had earlier issued a 14-Day ultimatum to the federal Government through its Central Working Committee (CWC) which expired on Friday, 8th September, 2017.
“It is important to inform you that the official response we received from the federal Government on this matter via a letter from the federal Ministry of Labour fell grossly short of addressing the issues raised by us and which warranted an ultimatum in the first instance.
“Congress held an emergency meeting which deliberated on the said letter, roundly found it unsatisfactory and unacceptable as our demands were not met, and resolved to continue with the strike in fulfillment of the relevant statutes and traditions of engagement within the nation’s industrial relations space”, it added.
Meanwhile, Aircraft pilots and engineers under the aegis of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), an affiliate of ULC, said that they have cancelled plans to pertake in the proposed strike action.
Members of the association changed their minds less than 48 hours after threatening to ground the nation’s airspace.
In an official statement signed by the National president of NAAPE, Comrade Galadima Abednego, the body said that they came to their new position after careful consideration of the situation and the review of the fragile status of the nation’s Airlines.
The statement, made available to journalists yesterday, added “It was resolved that we withdraw our earlier plan to participate in the strike in the interest of the industry and the air traveling public. By this, all our members are enjoined to go about their normal duties on Monday and all earlier correspondences connected to the strike written to the NCAA and other bodies are to be disregarded”.
NAAPE, alongside the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), had on Friday, notified the Federal Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that they would ground the Nigeria’s airspace if their demands are not met before that date.
In the letter addressed to the Director General NCAA, Capt. Murtah Usman, the unions lamented that government workers at all levels are owed months and years of salaries, pensions and various allowances, stating that such a situation could not be allowed to continue in that manner.
The unions, in the document jointly signed by the Secretary General of NAAPE, Comrade Ocheme Aba and Secretary General of ANAP, Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu decried withholding of the registration of ULC as a labour federation despite fulfilling all conditions stipulated by the law.
