Pilots, Engineers Call Off Strike As Government Intervene

The planned strike by the National Association of Air Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has been called off following the intervention of the government. The union had vowed to withdraw its pilots and engineers from all airlines following series of sack of members by airlines.

The latest sack of pilots and engineers in Bristow Helicopters had triggered the union to decide on embarking on strike. The sack affected 100 pilots and engineers, with Bristow Helicopters claiming that both Nigerians and expatriates were affected by the downsizing.

The union said it will go on strike for two weeks, demanding that the company reverses its decision on downsizing. It also warned other airlines planning to sack their pilots and engineers to desist from such decision. AllNews had reported that the aviation industry had been on lockdown for about four months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This had led to revenue loss by airline companies, with the industry said to be losing about N20 billion monthly before it resumed operation in July 2020. This had caused a series of sack in the industry with the latest being Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters. Air Peace sacked about 70 pilots after the pilots rejected 40% pay cut.

However, a meeting with the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made the union to backtrack on the strike. NAAPE President, Abednego Galadinma, revealed that the union has rescinded its planned strike, and will take its next decision after a meeting with the Minister of Labour on Thursday.