NLC tells airlines to Reverse mass sacking within two weeks

The Nigeria Labour Congress has rejected the recent sack of 100 Pilots by Air Peace , 69 Pilots by Bristow Helicopters and National Union of Air Transport Employees union executives working with Turkish Air .

In a press statement signed by the NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, on Friday , the congress described the sack of Air Turkish , Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters workers as “ highly insensitive , callous , and unjust . ”

Wabba said the workers should not be penalised for participating in union activities .

He said , “ The unilateral sack of executive members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees working with Turkish Airline is particularly distressing .

“ These workers were sacked for fighting for the rights of Nigerian workers in Turkish Air .

“ This is very reprehensible. We wish to remind Turkish Air that unionised workers cannot be punished or sacked for participating in trade union activities .

“ This action is aimed at frustrating unionisation in Turkish Air and to enslave Nigerians working with Turkish Air . ”

While stressing that the congress would not stop advocating for the dismissed workers , Wabba asked the management of Turkish Air , Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all redundant workers within two weeks .

Failure to do so would be met with a mass action form the entirety of Nigeria’ s workforce , he vowed .

He said , “ We call on the management of Turkish Air , Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all the sacked workers within two weeks . ”

As agreed between labour and employes ’ association , social dialogue should be used to resolve industrial concerns instead of the current resort to unilateralism .

“ We will not hesitate to mobilize the weight of the entire Nigerian workforce to the premises of Turkish Air , Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters if our demands are not met . ”

Economic downturn occasioned by COVID - 19 lockdowns has hit the aviation section hard.

Less than a week after over 70 pilots were sacked form Air Peace , Bristow Helicopters followed suit with declaing over 100 pilots and engineers redundant.