Air Transport Unions Threaten To Ground Arik Over Mass Sacking

The National Union of Air Transport Employees and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria have vowed to ground  the operations of Arik Air over sacking of 90 per cent of members of staff.

The  Unions said this in a statement to members of staff of Arik Air signed by NUATE General Secretary, Ocheme Aba and the Deputy General Secretary, ATSSSAN
Francis Akinjole.

The Union said, “All staff of Arik Air are therefore notified that from the 17th of August, 2020 all workers should down tools and assemble at places designated by union officials to be guided appropriately. The notice shall remain in force until otherwise directed by our union.”

The Unions had on July 21 issued a 25-day ultimatum to Arik to address the sack of  90 per cent of members of staff without payment of salary since April.

The statement stated, “Subsequent to the failure of Arik Air to address the issues raised in the 15-day ultimatum, our Unions issued to the airline since July 21, 2020 and realizing that the window of the 15-day came to an end on Wednesday, 5th August 2020, we are now left with no choice than to inform the Management of Arik Air that there is going to be a total withdrawal of services from the airline as from the next seven days.”

The Managing Director of the Airline, Roy Ilegbodu, had said that the company was faced with a huge decline of 98 per cent of the airline’s revenue.

According to him, the twin shock of the dip in oil prices and naira devaluation had triggered the decline.

Consequently, the company announced an 80 per cent pay cut for all members of staff for the month of April and May 2020.

The Airline had also said that 90 per cent of its workforce were to proceed on leave without pay until further notice.