CHUKS OKOH
The General Secretary of the National Union Of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) Comrade Paul Igene has warned members of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to desist from trading words with unions in the aviation industry in the interest of peace and tranquility.
Speaking exclusively with our Aviation Editor on Sunday in Lagos, Comrade Igene, noted that some airline operators have rejected meetings called by the government to resolve the issue of 5% unremitted fund to agencies in the industry.
According to NUATE scribe, reject calls to attending the meeting showed that they are not honest in their dealings adding that such development will not be tolerated by the unions in the aviation industry.
Comrade Igene, urged aviation parastatal heads not to recognise AON as they have failed to allow their members to belong to the union of their choices, wondering why AON claimed to be a body of an association and refused to allow their workers to in the union
He said not allowing workers to belong to unions was the reason they were being paid peanut as they have continued to deny workers of their right of association adding the the unions condemned the AON attitude.
Comrade Igene, noted that paying peanuts to workers by airlines will threaten safety of the aviation industry as they have no right to agitate for better working conditions to improve on their welfare.
According Comrade Igene, aviation workers are well trained, well paid and well respected and urged operators to train workers in their employment with better welfare packages
The NUATE scribe further warned that any attempt not to arrive at truce over the issue on ground shall be visited with their planned actions scheduled for this week.
