Aviation Unions Picket Air Peace, Stranding Passengers

On Tuesday, passengers were stranded in Abuja and Lagos due to a picket by aviation unions against Air Peace. The unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, accused the airline of obstructing workers' unionization and failing to remit a 5% Ticket Sales Charge owed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, the unions began their action early Tuesday morning after issuing multiple warnings. They claimed that domestic airlines have made it difficult for employees to join trade unions, leading to fears of discrimination.

The unions described their picketing as a measure of restraint, having previously given airlines weeks to address their grievances. They demanded immediate remittance of the withheld funds to facilitate the implementation of collective bargaining agreements for aviation workers, warning that the ongoing issues could lead to serious safety concerns.