Unions in Arik Air warn other unions against sabotaging floating of new national carrier

Unions in Arik Air have warned other aviation unions in the aviation sector to avoid playing negative roles that may jeopardise the issuance of an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) that will usher in the country’s new national carrier, NG Eagle.

At a rally held in support of the new national carrier, the unions in Arik Air directed their warning to the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals ( ANAP) and the National Union of Pensioners ( NUP) over their comments aimed at truncating the issuance of the required AOC for the takeoff of the new national airline described as an independent entity being put together by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria ( AMCON).

The unions in support of the new national carrier consisting of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE) and National Union of Air Transport Employées ( NUATE) have described the other two opposing unions, ANAP and NUP as “busybodies and interlopers orchestrating the sole aim of disrupting negotiations ongoing over severance benefits of staff of Arik before the new airline comes onboard.

The pro-unions at a press conference held after a peaceful rally inside the Arik Headquarters in Lagos said they were taken aback by the call of the two unions which are not domesticated in Arik and wondered why they have turned debt collectors.

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According to the General Secretary of NUATE, Ocheme Aba, the workers in Arik Air do not need distractions especially as it is close to negotiating the severance of Arik workers.

His words: ”By the time NG Eagle will be taking off, there will not be any staff of Arik Air who has not been properly settled, that is our mandate.

”Our purpose, we stated clearly we did not say the airline should not be given AOC, but we said we will not let them fly until the status of Arik Staff with regards NG Eagle has been properly established. if their years of service to Arik has been compensated they can go to NG Eagle and pick up new employment.

Ocheme explained that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) will not reduce its level and professionalism to be dictated to on whom they can give AOCs to stressing that the AOC process followed certain laid down procedures.

According to Ocheme, since AMCON took over the running of Arik Air, the airline had not been indebted to anyone except the legacy debts.

Also speaking during the rally, Chairman NUATE Arik branch, Olalekan Ogunlesi who also called on the NCAA to disregard ANAP and NUP, said both unions had no stake, legal or moral right to meddle in the affairs of Arik as they have no members in the airline and begging the question on whose interest they were acting.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE