Why We Opted Out Of Strike -ANAP

The Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) has said it opted out of last week’s two-day warning strike in the interest of the workers and the aviation industry in general.

The General Secretary of ANAP, Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu, in a statement made available to newsmen, said ANAP was formed for the struggle and emancipation of the downtrodden aviation workers in the country and not to subject them to the injustice they were fighting in the system

Saidu, explained that ANAP will never betray any worker in the aviation industry as a result of inconsistency adding that the association has come to stay and speak the truth.

He noted that the proposed strike action was not properly planned as a result of lapses in agencies where the consequential adjustment was to be effected except the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN.

ANAP noted that amended documents were not properly submitted adding, that it was submitted Thursday and they called for a strike on Monday without following due process of serving notice to the agencies involved in the implementation.

The union explained that the essence of a warning strike was to trigger dialogue and those concerned will be called to a round table to discuss issues raised with a view to averting it

ANAP however, disclosed that the ministry responded Sunday and called on the parties involved and was honoured by four out of the five unions that the contentious areas will be addressed.

The union said, the method used in addressing the condition of Service in FAAN, not by strike, should be applied to other agencies

According to ANAP, four unions unanimously agreed to suspend the strike and called NUATE but NUATE had pitched a tent with Airline Operators of Nigeria.

ANAP also noted, that it was on record that NUATE and the other four unions in the industry at a time agreed that government should not recognize the transformation of Arik air into NG Eagle but NUATE went ahead and backed out of the meeting adding, that NUATE has continued to frustrate the efforts of the other unions

ANAP reiterated that no amount of blackmail will deter the union from championing the cause of the aviation workers as it has come to correct abnormalities perpetrated by other unions that have made workers believe that reputable aviation unions do not exist in the country any longer.