Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) President, Comrade John Ogbe, has defended workers’ right to join unions, rejecting claims by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) over union activities in the aviation sector.
Ogbe said employers cannot decide whether workers should belong to a union, stressing that union membership remains a matter of personal choice.
He spoke in response to AON’s claim at the 30th edition of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents in Lagos that the union disrupted a smooth payment arrangement with agencies over the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge.
Meanwhile, the ATSSSAN president said unions cannot force anyone to join them.
“And as unions, we don’t have the right to compel anybody to join trade unions. Trade unions date back to 1900 in the aviation industry.”
Ogbe also rejected the argument that global best practices should limit union activities in the sector.
Ogbe said investors in aviation must recognise labour as a key part of the industry.
He said airlines cannot simply fly aircraft from one point to another without following established rules.
He added that air traffic controllers, who belong to unions, play a key role by giving airlines clearance to fly.
Ogbe described aviation workers and operators as partners and one family.
He said unions understand the financial pressure facing airlines and have often stepped in to support them.
“So, I want to say that aviation unions, we are social partners. We are in it together. We understand the financial burden that airlines go through and all of that. And several times, we have intervened on behalf of airlines.”
Ogbe said unions have gone beyond defending their members by asking the Federal Government to support airlines.
He said the unions sought tax waivers on imported items and spare parts for airlines.
They also asked President Bola Tinubu to cut taxes when rising fares created pressure for airlines and called for government intervention during the COVID-19 period.
Meanwhile, Ogbe said such interventions have helped airlines and argued that the survival of the carriers also benefits the unions.
“So, we are not here to fight or to truncate the business. And that’s what we are saying: give us access to members to join or not to join. You cannot compel it.”
Furthermore, he said workers’ freedom to join unions receives protection under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Trade Unions Act and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.
