By Lawani Mikairu

AIR Transport      Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSAN, and Warri branch staff of Overland Airways said they decided to picket the premises of Landover Company, operators of Overland Airways because of non-remittance of taxes, anti-labour practices and unjust sack of their members by the management.

The workers led by ATSSAN alleged that their 15 years tax deductions were not remitted to the appropriate places while Cumulative Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the workers are constantly violated by the management. he workers also accused the management of sacking of workers without agreed severance packages while anyone that reaches the age of 45-50 is dismissed from service, which they described as against the labour law of the country. The workers who stormed the airline’s headquarters in Lagos, barricaded the entrance of the company and carried different placards to press home their demands.

Some of the placards with different inscriptions read:  ‘No to delay of salary payment,’ ‘Remit our pension,’ No to Anti-Labour Practices,’ ’15 years no gratuity or pay-off,’ ‘Enough of wrongful dismissal’ and ‘No proof of tax payment’ amongst  others. The workers also accused the management of non-remittance of taxes and cooperative funds despite the deductions of such at source by the management, adding that on several occasions, it had reneged on its Conditions of Service as spelt out in their letters of employment.

However, in a bid to protect its properties, the management invited police officers but this did not deter the workers from continuing with their protest. Speaking on behalf of the workers, the President of ATSSSAN, Mr. Ahmadu Ilitrus, accused the management of the airline of intentionally reneging on its agreed terms with the workers without recourse to the law of the land. He insisted that the protest would have been avoided if the management had implemented the Condition of Service and Cumulative Bargain Agreement (CBA) it entered into with the workers, and allow unions’ representation in the disciplinary committee of the company.

Ilitrus said: “The last time we met here, we adjourned the meeting and we were shocked when we returned in the morning to learn that the meeting could not go on because Landover has referred the matter to the Federal Ministry of Labour and we were at labour, but when they discovered that all the issues they were foot dragging on are non-issues, they opted out again. If you serve up to 15 years in Landover, you are not entitled to more than N340,000 no matter your position. This is unfortunate and unacceptable to us. The only way forward is for the management to come out from their high horse and come down and discuss with us.”

Speaking also,, one of the protesting staff who identified himself as Ibrahim Justuce, accused the management of enslaving the workers . He alleged that workers’ taxes of over 10 years were not remitted to the tax offices, adding that whenever they demanded for tax clearance, the management had always dilly-dally on the issue.

Reacting to the action of the unions and workers, Landover said “Landover Company Limited has condemned the picketing of its head office on Monday, March 6, 2017 by the labour union under the umbrella body of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN). Negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) renewal between the Company and the Union were still ongoing at the Ministry of Labour when the Union members violated negotiations and picketed the Company in defiance of the clear directive of the Ministry of Labour that both the Management of Landover and the Union review the issues and revert on their position within one (1) week”.

“The Management of Landover Company Limited assures the general public that it operates fair employment practices and abides by the principle of equity in its dealings with the Union. We were therefore shocked by the hooliganism and terrorism demonstrated by ATSSSAN this morning.  However, the company stood up to them and their mission was shamefully unsuccessful while the company went about its day’s business.”

“Landover Company Limited is a responsible corporate organization that does not take the welfare or conditions of employment of her employees lightly. On the fabricated lies of the union on disciplinary issue that have flooded the media, our position is that we have always operated on the principle of fair hearing and the union cannot take away the right of the organization to discipline her employees.  Our disciplinary processes and procedures are clear and not ambiguous neither do they victimize or discriminate. The company made it clear to the union that it will not seek approval from the union before it takes disciplinary action against any employee for gross misconduct and would abide strictly by its disciplinary policies and procedures.”