The umbrella body of three major unions in the aviation industry, Aviation Union Grand Alliance (AUGA) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the management of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to implement the revised salary structure negotiated with the agency about a year ago, failure of which the workers would be forced to down tools.
AUGA, made up of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has however petitioned the minister of Aviation, Mallam Isa Yuguda over the reluctance of NCAA in the alleged implementation of the new salary structure.
The petition letter dated December 1, 2004 stated: “Uneasy calm and tension has pervaded the organization in the recent times which was further aggravated by the obvious lopsidedness of remuneration and allowance when compared with salaries and allowances of other sister organizations i.e. FAAN and NAMA under your same supervision.
“We want to place on record that while our members in FAAN and NAMA are enjoying the enhanced salaries and allowances in conformity with ICAO concepts, NCAA negotiated salaries and allowances of over a year ago is still subjected to rigours of official mishandling, misrepresentation and interpretations as a result of the administrative bureaucracy in the ministry.”
AUGA further lamented the lackadaisical attitude of NCAA management towards the implementation of new salary structure, adding that some of the frustrated staff of the regulatory body are on the verge of seeking the proverbial golden fleece elsewhere, thereby affecting the quality of the needed quality technical personnel.
In the letter signed by both Dr. Michael Ekugun, General Secretary, ATSSSAN and Alhaji Rasaq Saidu, acting general secretary, NUATE, the union further noted that the delay in the implementation violation of the relevant provisions of collective agreement as contained in the labour laws and trade disputes act.
The union also warned that “the desire of the federal government to get NCAA rated as category ‘A’ on ICAO rating may be very elusive or remain a day dream if the ministry and NCAA management fail to face the reality of our time and stop playing administrative politics by those that have nothing to lose.”
AUGA, however, urged the minister to prevail on NCAA to commence immediate implementation of the negotiated salaries and allowance while its failure could result in industrial disharmony that the union might not be able to contain.
Meanwhile, AUGA maintained that after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum, the workers would give another 7-day warning during which they would wear red arm bands to protest the government’s insensitivity.
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