Daily Independent Online.
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Friday, August 13, 2004.
ATSSSAN resists privatization
By Rotimi Durojaiye
Aviation
Correspondent, Lagos
Senior workers in
the aviation industry under the umbrella of Air Transport Services Senior Staff
Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) have vowed to resist the complete
privatisation of the industry.
The unionists
rose from a seminar entitled “Contemporary Issues and Challenges in
Industrial Relation, Aviation Perspective”, and said that a complete
privatisation of the industry has security implications to the nation.
ATSSSAN also
recommended the recapitalisation of Nigeria Airways in order to create
employment opportunities for Nigerians and halt capital flight by foreign
airlines and national pride.
The unionists
welcomed automation and highly
technological input in the industry, but cautioned on the rate of its
implementation so as not to result in displacement of employees.
Prompt payment of
entitlements to both retirees and redundant workers of the industry before
their final disengagement from service was also recommended by the
participants.
They also called
for unity among members and the various factions if the ideas of the unions
were to be achieved.
ATSSSAN also
recom-mended the incorporation of the ultimatum in the Trade Union Dispute Laws
in Nigeria.
