Operations of Arik Air were on Monday shut down by aviation unions over alleged non-payment of staff salaries since April after placing 90 per cent of workforce on compulsory leave and other anti-labour practices.

The unions include National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).

The shutdown extends to all Arik Air operations, including airlines.

Chairman, ATSSSAN, Arik Air Branch, Mr Innocent Atasie, told journalists that the workers resolved to shut down Arik operations nationwide when all efforts made to resolve the problem failed.

Atasie said that the unions were miffed that there had been no payment of staff salaries since April after placing 90 per cent of the workforce on compulsory leave.

The unions said the strike would continue indefinitely, until their demands were met by management of Arik Air.

Their demands included payment of outstanding salaries arrears, signing of Conditions of Service, remittance of Pension, Tax, and statutory deductions to the appropriate authorities and to resolve other anti-labour issues.

Others were payment of salary arrears of seven months, with a commitment to pay salaries as at when due, henceforth.

Atasie said that the unions also wanted the immediate review of all employee remunerations which had remained stagnant since the inception of Arik Air, over ten years ago.

He said that the unions decided to shut down all operations nationwide when all efforts by the unions were aborted.

Recall that on Sept. 13,  management of Arik Air asked for the intervention of  Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, over the planned industrial action by unions scheduled to commence on September 14.

Daily Trust