Ajiri Imah
Workers of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) has embarked on strike, grounding all International and Local flights at the Murtala Mohammed Airport on Monday morning in Lagos.
The strike which commenced early today led to many airlines including foreign airlines being handled by the ground handling company experiencing flight disruptions.
NEWSTODAY gathered that many airlines could not operate their scheduled flights with many passengers billed for morning flights getting stranded with no workers of NAHCO in sight to handle their flights.
According to the National Union of Air Transport Employees [NUATE] and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the workers had earlier put out a notice of the strike following what they called the uncooperative attitude of the NAHCO management towards resolving the welfare issues raised by the workers through the unions.
In the circular issued by the unions and signed by the general secretary of NUATE, Comrade Ocheme Aba and his ATSSSAN counterpart, Comrade Francis Akinjole, the workers were directed to withdraw their services nationwide by embarking on an indefinite strike until the issues are resolved.
An aviation expert and affected passenger Alex Nwuba, revealed that staff of the airport walked out on passengers, saying they were on strike.
Alex said passengers are frustrated as there was no information or email sent to passengers to this regard.
NAHCO handles check-in, boarding and ramp services for several international airlines including Air France/KLM, Qatar, Ethiopian Airlines, Delta Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Air.