Bristow pilots down tools over Nigerian/expatriate pay disparity

The National Executive Council (NEC) of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has directed all pilots and engineers at Bristow Group Nigeria to withdraw their services over grievances which include pay disparity between Nigerian and expatriate workers.
The pilots and engineers started the warning strike as a statement to the Bristow management over poor condition of service being alleged by the union, but with specific reference to the allegation that Nigerian pilots and engineers are discriminated against in favour of foreign nationals.
The union in a letter signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Abah Ochembe said all efforts to get the management of Bristow to ameliorate the acts of injustice and violation of the constitution of Nigeria and Bristow Code of Business Integrity (COBI) had failed.
It therefore declared the warning strike, threatening to embark on an indefinite one if nothing was done by the management to address the alleged injustice.
In the letter, NAAPE demanded “full restoration of pay parity between expatriates and nationals” as well as the bringing about of valid conditions of service and a commitment by the management of Bristow that Nigerian nationals will not be laid off as long as there exists expatriates in the company.
Bristow yesterday confirmed the picketing of its premises which it said has caused disruptions to its clients’ flight operations in Nigeria.
 The action is related to concerns raised by NAAPE regarding certain aspects of the conditions of service of its members currently employed by Bristow Helicopters Nigeria, the company said in a response to our correspondent’s enquiry.
The statement signed by Julie King, its external communication manager, said, “Bristow has been in dialogue with NAAPE over the past few months regarding this matter and a proposal was recently put to NAAPE for their consideration.”