Aviation unions under the aegis of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Union of Air Transport Employees(NUATE) on Monday joined their colleagues across the country to protest what they described as anti labour clauses in the new aviation bills, that awaits the assent of President Mohammadu Buhari.
Aviation workers at the Ibadan Airport, in their scores were seen with placards of various inscriptions and chanted solidarity songs while moving peacefully round the airport premises.
Though the protest, did not in anyway disrupt activities at the airport, the Trade Union Congress and Nigerian Labour Congress affiliate groups turn out in large numbers to air their grievances.
The protesters with placard inscription like: “Our right to protest is under ILO Convention,” Aviation workers are not essential service providers, “Our strength is in our union, “Banning workers from unionism is evil,” etc.
While addressing the protesters, in Ibadan ATSSSAN chairman, Olayade Oyewole, affirmed that the aviation workers were against the anti labour clauses inserted into the aviation bills recently amended.
According to Oyewole, early this year, a committee was set up to look into the Act that established some parastatals in the aviation industry, where the union was fully represented and agreed on some of the clauses to be amended.
Other union leaders, Gbenga Kayode; Binuyo Akinkunmi; Ibrahim Abimbola; Tunde Badmus and John Adebayo took turn to address the protesters.
