Pilots, Engineers Cancel Proposed Nationwide Strike

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The nationwide strike earlier planned by members of the National Association of Air Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has been suspended.

The exercise was cancelled after leaders of the group held a crucial meeting with the Minister of Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the association had threatened to embark on an industrial action for two weeks following the sacking of its members by an operator.

Recall that on Tuesday, the management of Bristow Helicopters Limited laid off over 100 pilots and engineers because of the present economic situation caused by COVID-19.

But NAAPE was not happy with the decision of Bristow to sack its members, a move that came after another airline operator, Air Peace, sacked over 70 pilots because of the same reason.

The executives of NAAPE claimed it was wrong for its members to be sacked by their employees because the federal government was planning a bailout fund for operators to mitigate against the harsh economic realities.

In order not to ground flight operations as threatened by the aviation workers, especially at a time the sector was just returning from over three months of inactivity, the Minister quickly waded into the issue.

On Thursday, president of NAAPE, Mr Abednego Galadinma, stated that Mr Sirika pleaded with the union to shelve the planned strike and wait for the outcome he will have with the relevant stakeholders in Lagos on Friday (today).

The union leader said his members have decided to suspend the industrial action, believing that today’s meeting will yield the expected result.