Travellers stranded as unions ground Arik Air

arik-air

 

Operations of Arik Air have been shut down by the aviation unions over alleged non-payment of staff salaries since April after placing 90 percent of the workforce on compulsory leave.

The unions that carried out the industrial action include the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).

The Chairman of ATSSSAN, Arik Air branch, Innocent Atasie, said the workers resolved to shut down Arik operations nationwide since all efforts made to resolve the problem has failed.

He said the unions are unhappy that staff salaries have not been paid since April after placing 90 percent of the workforce on compulsory leave.

The unions said the strike would continue indefinitely until their demands, which include payment of outstanding salaries arrears, signing of conditions of service, remittance of pension, tax, and statutory deductions to the appropriate authorities and the resolution of other anti-labour issues, were met by the airline.

Arik Air has been under receivership of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) since February 2017 after the airline could no longer meet its debt obligations.