Ministry Gives SAHCOL Ultimatum to Recall Sacked Workers

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity has directed the management of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) to reinstate four sacked workers of the company within two weeks before any dialogue can take place.

In a letter to the General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) dated May 5 2015, signed by Mrs C.C. Dike of the Department of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, said that in the interest of fair labour practices, premised on equity and natural justice to ensure peaceful national industrial relations system, SAHCOL had been directed to recall the sacked labour leaders and reverse the disclaimer published.

The letter reads: “I am directed to refer to Form TD/3 dated April 23,2015, filed by the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) notifying the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity of a trade dispute against Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited SAHCOL over the following points in dispute:

(1)Victimisation of union chairman /secretary;

(11) Refusal to respect right of employees to peaceful assembly /association

(111) Refusal to conclude review of conditions of service.”

According to the letter, there were evidence of lack of proper understanding of the principles and practice of trade unionism in the organisation by the management of SAHCOL, as well as the national labour laws on the matter.

It also noted that to sack and the subsequent publishing of the disclaimer notice in a national newspaper, SAHCOL was in breach of the provisions of Section 9 (6) of the labour Act, Cap L1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.