Share this
The
National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Sunday said the
more than 600 employees sacked Aero Contractors Ltd. in March were
yet to get their severance packages.
Mr Olayinka Abioye, the General Secretary, NUATE confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
NAN
reports that the airline, which is presently being managed the Asset
Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), had sacked more than 600 of its
workers representing 60 per cent of its workforce.
reports that the airline, which is presently being managed the Asset
Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), had sacked more than 600 of its
workers representing 60 per cent of its workforce.
The Chief
Executive Officer of the airline, Capt. Ado Sanusi, had assured the
affected workers that they would be paid their pensions and gratuities.
Executive Officer of the airline, Capt. Ado Sanusi, had assured the
affected workers that they would be paid their pensions and gratuities.
Abioye,
however, noted that the unions in the sector had met with the airline’s
management to see how the workers could be paid all their entitlements.
however, noted that the unions in the sector had met with the airline’s
management to see how the workers could be paid all their entitlements.
“The truth
of the matter is that none of them have been paid the negotiated
redundancy benefits but they have received their gratuities which were
ware-housed Stanbic IBTC.
of the matter is that none of them have been paid the negotiated
redundancy benefits but they have received their gratuities which were
ware-housed Stanbic IBTC.
“We just
had a meeting with the CEO, and arrangements are in top gear to ensure
that no matter how little it is, that whatever the management has been
able to raise, will be disbursed to the beneficiaries.
had a meeting with the CEO, and arrangements are in top gear to ensure
that no matter how little it is, that whatever the management has been
able to raise, will be disbursed to the beneficiaries.
“Let us
begin this process of payment to rekindle hope in others that management
is desirous of paying them their entitlements and this will be done as
quickly as possible,’’ he said.
begin this process of payment to rekindle hope in others that management
is desirous of paying them their entitlements and this will be done as
quickly as possible,’’ he said.
Abioye also
confirmed that the management of the airline had reabsorbed some of its
technical staff, following the approval given to it recently the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to carry out C-Check on series
of Boeing 737 aircraft.
confirmed that the management of the airline had reabsorbed some of its
technical staff, following the approval given to it recently the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to carry out C-Check on series
of Boeing 737 aircraft.
“The
positive side of it is that Aero management has expanded their
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and they are expecting
more monies from there when third party airlines bring their machines
there.
positive side of it is that Aero management has expanded their
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and they are expecting
more monies from there when third party airlines bring their machines
there.
“This is a
good thing for us because even when that was going on, the management
has been able to recall some of our people in technical department and
given them contract employment.’’
good thing for us because even when that was going on, the management
has been able to recall some of our people in technical department and
given them contract employment.’’
According
to him, the recalled workers have been employed with the proviso that
immediately there is a silver lining in the sky that some of them will
be reconverted to permanent employees.
to him, the recalled workers have been employed with the proviso that
immediately there is a silver lining in the sky that some of them will
be reconverted to permanent employees.
“So, there
is hope in this direction which therefore means that the number of those
declared redundant will lessen which will enable management to focus on
only those affected and pay them as soon as possible,’’ he said.
is hope in this direction which therefore means that the number of those
declared redundant will lessen which will enable management to focus on
only those affected and pay them as soon as possible,’’ he said.
However,
one of the affected workers told NAN on the condition of anonymity that
it was unfortunate that the management had reneged on its promise to pay
the severance packages.
one of the affected workers told NAN on the condition of anonymity that
it was unfortunate that the management had reneged on its promise to pay
the severance packages.
“Most of us that were declared redundant Aero management are yet to be paid our severance packages months after.
“AMCON
management is not willing to pump money into the airline and without the
injection of funds AMCON, the present management can’t get resources
to carry out most of the projects they already mapped out.
management is not willing to pump money into the airline and without the
injection of funds AMCON, the present management can’t get resources
to carry out most of the projects they already mapped out.
“AMCON and
the management took the right decision to allow the airline to continue
operation, but it is unfortunate that they don’t want to pay us the
severance packages as promised earlier.’’
the management took the right decision to allow the airline to continue
operation, but it is unfortunate that they don’t want to pay us the
severance packages as promised earlier.’’
Reacting,
the media consultant to Aero Contractors, Mr Simon Tumba, told NAN in a
telephone interview that he was not aware if the affected workers had
been paid or not. (NAN)
the media consultant to Aero Contractors, Mr Simon Tumba, told NAN in a
telephone interview that he was not aware if the affected workers had
been paid or not. (NAN)
