''Nigerian pilots and engineers working with Aerocontractor Airlines on Wednesday, embarked on strike that left hundreds of its passengers across the nation stranded.
The workers were protesting what they described as the management’s preferential treatment of expatriates to the detriment of their Nigerian counterparts.
According to them, several letters had been written to the management on the declining conditions of service and welfare as it affected Nigerian pilots and engineers but the management failed to respond.
Aerocontractors is a key player in the Nigerian aviation industry servicing the oil and gas industry.
The airline has two Boeing 237-400, two 737-300, five dash 8-300 and 16 helicopters.
The airline also operated and maintained aircraft for oil companies like Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Addressing aviation correspondents in Lagos, the National Vice-President of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Kayode Owolabi, said their grievances included a call for six-weeks on-and-six-weeks-off duty for Nigerian engineers as enjoyed by their foreign counterparts.
They are also calling for incentive pay allowance of about N19,200/N12,800 as approved by the head office in Canada and enjoyed by their foreign counterparts.
Owolabi said, “Aerocontractors management granted expatriates a compensation for Extended Tour/Deferred Leave while nothing is done for the Nationals”.
He stated that the airline’s management had made Warri Operational Base, an exclusive right of the expatriate pilots and engineers for selection and promotion to the position of base manager.
He added, “Similarly, arrangements are under way to make Agip Base operation an exclusive right of the Portuguese expatriates by getting them accelerated multiple type ratings/trainings,” he said.
“It is obvious that Aerocontractors has portrayed to Nigerians and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria its continued inability to produce competent Nigerians to occupy professional positions after 40 years of operation in the country,” Owolabi said.
The union also accused the management of biased training programme for engineers, arguing that there was a wide disparity between the expatriates and their Nigerian counterparts.
It urged management of Aero to consider the propriety of looking into the issues by way of proffering lasting solutions.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Aero, Mr. Koen Neven, said negotiations were still ongoing with the union. He, however, hoped it would be resolved on Thursday (today).""
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?t...20070614640698