By Dickson Omobola
Following the picketing of Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, by aviation unions, Wednesday, the airline has disclosed that it lost more than N2 billion in revenue as a result of the industrial action.
The disruption followed a three days ultimatum issued on August 7 by the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, to the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, demanding the remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, and an end to what they described as the continued refusal by some airlines to allow the unfettered unionisation of their workers.
When the issues remained unresolved, the unions, backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, proceeded with the industrial action, picketing Air Peace’s operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide, Wednesday, also said should affected passengers seek compensation, the unions responsible for the picketing would be held liable for the consequences of their actions.
