Aviation Expert Advises Airline Operators To Dialogue Unions For Sector Stability
The Association of Nigeria Airline Operators(AON) has been advised to engage constructively with all stakeholders in the sector including air transport unions to guarantee stability in the sector and avert consequent losses to industry players and the economy.
Mr Martins Nwafor, the Managing Director of Chinua Achebe Airport in Umueri, Anambra made the call while weighing in on the recent face off between the parties which led to a major disruption as a result of union protest.
Nwafor, a renowned aviation expert told journalists in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area on Tuesday said loss from the disruption was heavy not just on the airlines and airports but on the entire economy.
Recall that aviation unions including the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers shut down operations in protest on Aug. 11.
The protest was against alleged non-remittance of the five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and as well as anti-union practices by domestic airline operators.
Nwafor described TSC as crucial to the revenue of agencies of government including Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Nigeria Aerospace Management Agency, Accident Investigation, Nigerian Meteorology Agency and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.
He said though airline operators had direct dealings only with agencies of government, delayed remittances to them had adverse effects on their relationship with the employees who were members of the unions.
The expert said he did not know one airline which was the biggest in the industry was picketed adding that the about 80 flights it cancelled caused serious disruptions in the sector.
“Airline operators can not say that they do not have business with the unions but these agencies of government they interact with are populated by staff who are members of the unions and we now see that they can disrupt their operations.
“The TSC in question is paid to agencies by the passengers through the airline operators. If they do not remit on time, the ability of these agencies to take care of their staff is affected and the union is naturally supposed to look for their money.
“For us here, we also felt the negative impact, we did not receive any flights because Lagos is the hub where all the flights originate.
“The revenue loss was huge on operators, Air Transport handlers, airports, the passengers and businesses.
“This should not be allowed to happen again, the real profit or loss in the aviation industry is on the larger economy and not us, we are in the business facilitating businesses through movement of people,” he said.
Nwafor, an Aviation Consultant advised airline operators not to stifle the labour environment in the air transport sector but recognise and talk with the unions because they were critical to the operations in aviation.
He said operators should allow members of their staff to unionise as it was compulsory for all junior staff because they all belong to the Nigeria Labour Congress but optional for senior staff who belong to the Trade Union Congress
He said operators had nothing to be afraid of if they had a well defined condition of service and good human resources management system.
*I was the branch chairman of NCAA and FAAN for eight years, later as a national vice president and temporarily as acting president before pulling out for other responsibilities, so I know how it works.
“Airline operators should allow junior staff of their organisations to enroll in the union, not management of a company reading a court order against unionising on behalf of employees, it is not possible that staff can go to court to get an injunction against themselves,” he said.
