Aviation unions give airlines 3-day ultimatum over unionisation, TSC

By Faheem Lawal

‎The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) have issued a three-day notice of strike to Nigeria’s domestic airlines, accusing the operators of blocking workers from unionising and non-remittance of ticket sales charges owed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
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‎In a statement issued at the weekend, the unions said they were escalating the issue after the warning they gave on August 4, when the unions announced a notice of picketing and declared they were prepared to strike “at any time without further notice.”

Describing the latest move as a gesture of restraint, the unions said they were giving the airlines a further three days to address their grievances before industrial action begins. In the statement, the unions accused airlines of two major infractions.

‎They alleged that airlines have made it impossible for members of staff to join unions freely, despite repeated efforts by the aviation unions to secure that right. They said workers are too afraid to even express interest in union membership for fear of discrimination.

The unions also accused the airlines of withholding a 5% charge on ticket sales that is meant to fund the operations of aviation agencies. According to the statement, the non-remittance of these funds has stalled the implementation of collective bargaining agreements already negotiated on behalf of union members.

The statement read: “In relaxing the notice of picketing, dated 4th August 2026 by our unions, with a statement that we were ready to strike at anytime without further notice, we hereby magnanimously issued a 3-day Notice of Strike upon the defaulting domestic airlines principally for the following infractions:

‎”Making unfettered unionisation of staff in their organisation impossible after several efforts by the aviation unions. Their workers dare not even express the intention to belong to unions of their choices.

‎”Non-remittance of the already collected, but withheld 5% ticket sales charge, which is the operational fund of the aviation agencies, thereby rendering our members negotiated collective bargaining agreements at the aviation agencies nugatory so far. This continues to breed disgruntled air transport workers; the implication of which is an accident in the waiting!

“We want unequivocal declarations through circulars and other direct means of communication to their staff that they are free to join unions of their choices without fear of victimisation.

We want an immediate remittance of the seized operational funds of the aviation agencies to allow for the implementation of the conditions of service of our members in the various aviation agencies.”