On Monday morning, the majority of Nigeria’s international airports experienced severe turmoil as a result of a strike by the employees of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc.
It was discovered that the workers went on strike because the management had ignored their Condition of Service (CoS), which had been on the table for more than four years.
Numerous NAHCO-managed airlines’ passengers were left stranded as a result of this move, particularly at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), where one of the airlines had to fly back to its base.
According to our source, Qatar Airways, which was already in the air, had to return to Doha because of the signal it received that it would not be handled by the ground handling company.
The workers it was learnt embarked on the strike action 12a.m on Monday when their request for upward review of CoS was unattended to for years.
The workers were backed by their unions; Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).
However, it was learnt that the unions had issued the management strike notice with deadline to comply with their demands, but failed.
Rather for the management to comply, the management approached the court in an attempt to stop the workers from embarking on the strike.
Other foreign airlines that may also be affected by this action include Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM, Delta Air Lines, Air France, AKSY, Egypt Air and Rwandair.
