NUATE Pickets Kenya Airways

Chinedu Eze
The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Tuesday picketed the operations of the East African carrier, Kenya Airways over labour issues.

The picketing of the airline took place as early as 7a.m. and disrupted the check in process of its passengers who were slated to depart Lagos to Nairobi by 8a.m.
Hoards of passengers were seen either sitting down on the floor of the terminal or loitering around the premises and unsure of when the union would allow the airline to commence check in of passengers.

Kenya Airways operates daily between Lagos and Nairobi.
The union members and some workers of the airline were seen with different placards alleging that the airline treats its workers like slaves.

The union also insisted that it would continue to picket the airline until its demands were met.
Speaking at the rally, the General Secretary of NUATE, Olayinka Abioye in an interview with journalists, alleged that the airline reneged on all the agreements it had with the union since 2016.

He also alleged that there had not been salary reviews of workers in the airline in the past 10 years, adding that such would no longer be tolerated by the union.
Also speaking on the picketing of the airline, the General Secretary of NUATE, Mr. Lucky Izevbokun, remarked that the union would continue to ground the operations of the airline until its demands were met, adding that its Nigerian employees were treated like slaves.

He explained that the unions had given the management of the airline enough time to implement the agreement reached with it since 2016, but lamented that the management had continued to renege on its agreement.

He said: “We have given them some ample time to fulfill their promises, but it seems the management is not serious about the implementation. The misbehaviour of Kenya Airways led to the grounding of their operations today.

“We are asking for improved working condition of our members with the airline, but they have been dribbling us since the agreement was reached in 2016. We will continue to ground their operations in the country until they meet our demands,” he said.

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