Aviation Unions on Thursday grounded the operations of Bristow Helicopters and Caverton Helicopters over refusal of their management to address issues bordering on the welfare of their members. The unions comprised of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE ), Association of Aviation Professionals ( ANAP ), and other affilates in the United Labour Congress ( ULC ).
Members of the unions in the two helicopter companies withdrew their services, including the supply of fuel until issues raised by the unions are equitably resolved.
At the General Aviation Terminal ( GAT ), wing of the Lagos Airport, scores of union members blocked the entrance and exit gates of Bristow Helicopters to prevent passengers and others planning to patronise the firm from gaining access.
Singing solidarity songs and dancing to music blaring from loud speakers, the union members expressed disenchantment over the way and manner the management of Bristow Helicopters maltreats and humilate its Nigerian workers.
They displayed placards with inscriptions that drives home the maltreatment of Nigerian workers by the helicopter company.
Some of the placards reads: “Racism in Bristow must stop”. “Nigerian Jobs for Nigerians”
“We say no to forced labour in Bristow”, “We Stop abusing and violating our rights and privileges “.
Addressing members of the unions, National President of NAAPE, Comrade Galadima Abednego said they were forced to shut down Bristow and Caverton Helicopters because of the failure of their management to address issues concerning their members.
He said attempts by NAAPE in the last four years to impress it on the management of Bristow to do the needfull has failed despite interventions by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Federal Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA ).
He said : “The management of Bristow Group has been unrelenting in violating both the spirit and letters of the Conditions of Service wittingly agreed to by them.
The airline has kept pilots and engineers progression at bay.
Refusal to pay for forced work rotation which they kept in place for the whole year January to December of 2017.
Declared redundancy but refused to offer any justification as required by labour law and Condition of Service, while bidding for time to render potential victims helpless.
Commenced a policy of witch-hunting, intimidation and victimization of union members leading to arbitrary sacking of a pilot without recourse to the procedures established in the Conditions of Service.
Created and forced engineers into a shift pattern that requires them work for in excess of what is agreed in the Conditions of Service.
“Our union has tried its best to be calmed, composed and matured under this maze of malfeasance on the part of the management.
“We have tried every form of engagement with the hope of securing an amicable settlement of these issues. But our forbearance has been taken for granted, and our patience has been repaid with scorn and mocking by the management.
“Having no further means to get amelioration, our union has no alternative than to embark on this industrial action.”
The NAAPE President said the strike could only be called off, if the management of Bristow takes steps to resolve pending issues.
He said “Accordingly, this strike action will remain in place until the following demands are met.
“That the management of Bristow Group justifies their extraordinary recruitment of expatriates, or streamlines the number of expatriates in its employ to be in alignment with Nigeria’s Expatriate Quota Laws.
“Recalls the NAAPE member sacked arbitrarily with due apology and immediately locate all pilots and engineers appropriately on the progression matrix established by the Conditions of Service.
“Pay arrears of all work done as per approved pay structures in the company as contained in the Conditions of Service, abrogate all shift systems that are contrary to the progressions of the Conditions of Service and for work done presently in excess of approved hours of work in the Conditions of Service.
“Undertake to abstain from current strong arm tactics, impunity, intimidation, manipulation of facts, and general recklessness.
“We call on the Minister of Labour and employment, the Minister of Interior, Minister of State, Aviation, the leadership of the National Assembly, the Director General of the NCAA and all agencies of government connected to these issues to come to our aid in confronting and bringing under control, this hydra-headed monster called Bristow Helicopters.
This will be in the general interest of Nigeria and her citizens, as well as the orderly development of the aviation sector in Nigeria.”
On Caverton, the NAAPE boss said the firm’s operations was shut because it has been shortchanging its members.
He said : “We shut down Caverton Helicopters operations because the the condition of service has expired. The management has been using delay tactics.”
