The Nigeria Labour Congress has rejected the recent sacking of 100 pilots by Air Peace, 69 Pilots by Bristow Helicopters and National Union of Air Transport Employees union executives working with Turkish Air.
In a press statement signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, on Friday, he described the sacking of Air Turkish, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters workers as “highly insensitive, callous, and unjust.”
He stressed that workers should not be penalized for participating in union activities.
“The unilateral sack of executive members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees working with Turkish Airline is particularly distressing. These workers were sacked for fighting for the rights of Nigerian workers in Turkish Air.
“This is very reprehensible. We wish to remind Turkish Air that unionized workers cannot be punished or sacked for participating in trade union activities. This action is aimed at frustrating unionization in Turkish Air and to enslave Nigerians working with Turkish Air,” the statement read in part.
The anti-labour practices in Turkish Air constitute fundamental infractions on our Constitution and labour laws and a gross disrespect to Nigeria.
Section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of association including the right to join and participate in the activities of trade unions. Furthermore Section 12 sub section 14 of Nigeria’s Trade Union (Amendment) Act 2005 provides for voluntary membership of trade unions and stipulates that no worker should be victimized for joining a trade union or participating in the activities of a trade union. We posit that the sack of NUATE executives working with Turkish Air violates their human and trade union rights.
While stressing that labour would not stop advocating for the dismissed workers, Wabba asked the management of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all redundant workers within two weeks.
“We call on the management of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all the sacked workers within two weeks. As agreed between labour and Employes’ Association, social dialogue should be used to resolve industrial concerns instead of the current resort to unilateralism.
“We will not hesitate to mobilize the weight of the entire Nigerian workforce to the premises of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters if our demands are not met,” the statement added.
Source: Punch
