Airlines drop NAHCO for SAHCOL as workers go on strike

09 January, 2008 01:00:00 WALE HAASTRUP AND TOPE ODUWOLE

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Business Day gathered that airlines such as Virgin Nigeria, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines were among the first to contact Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) to assist in handling their passengers and aircraft.

It would be recalled that NAHCO had been battling with staff over improved welfare package for some time now, with management promising at least 15 per cent increament.

Since this was not forth coming, workers had gathered at the expansive premises of the ground handling company as early as 10 a.m to commence a total shut down of operation.

They carried placards with some uncomplimentary remarks about the managing director of the firm, Sule Bates and his management team.

Some carried green leaves, chanting war songs.

Addressing the aggrieved workers, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) led by its President, Imonitie Ituah explained that the union has negotiated with the management which he said has promised to take their demands to the board.

He said: "The management from our interaction said the delay in improving the condition of service is that the condition of service has to have some members of private and public service, and we said they are transitional but they said that there are some grey areas we have to know, but we said okay that they should officially communicate to us , that was just yesterday, which they have agreed to do, but the workers have called this meeting, that is why we have come to let them know the outcome of the meeting".

Ituah reiterated that "the whole issue had to do with the totality of their condition of service, but for now, we don’t know the areas they called grey areas, but what we have done is something that we believe is good for the generality of the workers, because for a very long time now, we have not gotten a reasonable condition of service".

Ituah however expressed the hope that the mangment will recat positively to the demands of the workers adding that if nothing wwas done he said they would not hesitate to call a full blown strike.

meanwhile, reacting to the strike, Demola Akinbola, head, strategy and communications of NAHCO said workers held a congress to discuss issues relating to their welfare.

According to him, it later led to a peaceful demonstration by the staff, which consequently affected passenger facilitation operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport were briefly disrupted.

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