* aviation unions fail to join strike over conference
Flight operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos went on smoothly on Thursday despite the strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and other affiliate unions, Daily Trust can report.
Checks at the domestic and international wings of the airport indicated that airlines operate their scheduled flights without any disruption.
Though many people had expected that the airspace would be shut down as a result of the strike but aviation workers have not joined the strike.
Our correspondent learnt that the strike which started Wednesday midnight coincided with the National delegates’ conference of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) taking place in Asaba, Delta State.
“This is the main reason while aviation unions have not joined the strike. You can imagine the level of impact it would have on flights operations if the aviation unions had joined the strike”, said an aviation worker.
Leading aviation unions including NUATE, the Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) in a joint statement however said the general strike will commence effectively in the aviation sector on Tuesday, October 2nd.
The statement was jointly signed by their National Presidents and Secretaries.
The unions said they are “fully in support of the ongoing general strike declared by NLC, TUC and ULC”.
The statement added, “However, due to the National Delegates’ Conference of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) scheduled for 26th -28th September, 2018 (before the declaration of the national strike), the Labour Centres have granted moratorium to the aviation unions to allow for conclusion of the NUATE conference.
“In the light of the above, the general strike will commence effectively in the aviation sector on Tuesday 2nd October, 2018. All aviation workers are to ensure full compliance and be on alert for further directives”.
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