Arik passengers stranded as unions ground airline

Scores of passengers were yesterday stranded at various airports across the country following the picketing of Arik Air by three aviation unions, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) over labour related issues.

The union members arrived the headquarters of the airline as early as 4.00 am to literally ground the operations of the airline.

The union members carried out the picketing exercise despite heavy police presence barricading entrance into the headquarters of the airline.

Passengers expressed disappointment as a result of the picketing carried out by the unions as none of the aircraft of the airline was allowed to operate as the unions ensured that there was no access to the airlines offices by workers.

Acting on instructions from the unions, oil marketers were directed not to supply Jet A1 (Aviation fuel) to the airline as part of measures to press home their demands.

It was gathered that the unions picketed operations of the troubled Arik Air over the failure of the airline’s management to re-instate sacked union leaders and several other issues in the airline.

There was also stiff rejection from some staff of the airline who were vehemently against the unions’ action bent on scuttling it.

Staffers carrying placards with inscription: “Árik Staff, Say No To Unions For Now!,” “Go and help Aero!” as well as other placards were seen trying to bar the picketing unionists but met stiff resistance from the unions but this corroborated the stands of management that they met with staff and agreed there was no need for the picketing especially at this trying time of the airline.

A passenger who identified himself as Mike traveling to Kaduna from the local airport Ikeja, said nobody was able to tell him what was happening and why Arik Air was not flying and why no one was saying anything about it.

Mike said he was upset at the contrived silence as his meeting was for 11am yesterday and it was sad the airline has not said anything to them.

The unions despite heavy police presence has as early has 4am have already barricaded the headquarters of the airline.

As at 4 :00 am yesterday the unions ordered oil marketers not to supply Jet A1 (Aviation fuel) to the airline to press home their demands.

The unions were picketing operations of the troubled Arik Air over the failure of the airline’s management to re-instate sacked union leaders and several other issues in the airline.