Aviation unions Tuesday continued their peaceful protest at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos for the second day running against the inhuman treatments meted against their workers by some policemen last week during their peaceful protest.
The unionists in collaboration with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday began a peaceful protest marching from the local airport to the international airport singing solidarity songs.
The convoy however encountered a brief interruption by the police at the police command located at the airport. The labour unions went into an argument with a policeman in mufti who had challenged the convoy.
One of the protesters, Mr. Tunde Yussuff at the protest venue told New Dawn why the members are protesting and why Caverton Helicopters was picketed on Monday.
“Caverton has been able to settle with our workers but we are out because they brought policemen to attack our members and took them somewhere at Oshodi,” he said.
He continued that, “Caverton sacked about 95 percent of their staffers and they refused to pay them off. They later agreed they would pay them by March ending, they have refused to pay.
“During any struggle like this we always leave some people behind to monitor things while others are on the peaceful demonstration. They brought RRS men to attack those people we left behind.
“In fact a lady lost her pregnancy in the process and a guy is still battling with one of his eyes due to the police brutality last week. It was the last week issue that brought this continued protest, the IG is already aware. We want those guys to be compensated,” he said.
The train had a break at the gate of Newrest Airline Services and Logistics PLC, one of the companies picketed on Monday.
At the point, one of the union leaders Comrade Agness Funmi addressed the crowd, commending members for joining the struggle.
“This is the time for us to stand up to any slavery and oppression,” she said, adding that, “They have been suppressing our people and committing anti-union activities.”
According to her, the most unfortunate thing is that fellow Nigerians are used by foreign companies to terrorise their Nigerian workers.
“Most of these inhuman activities are being perpetrated by our own brothers with the same skin color with us. They behave like lords but we are going to tell them they are only lords of the jungle. We are going to show them we are up to the task and we are ready to take up our responsibilities by fighting for our rights.
“Nobody should drive us like slaves, NLC will not take anything less than the best for our members, that is why we have the NLC and TUC here in solidarity,” she said.
Also at the protest, First Trustee, Lagos State Council of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Mr. Okenaiye Barnabas told New Dawn that the protest must continue in order to ensure compliance.
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“If the oppressors don’t have collaboration, they won’t be able to do the evil they are going against our people. That was why we too ran to NLC, for back up against injustice meted against our members.
“That is why you see us here today. It is necessary that we unite against oppression; it is not a personal protest. If we must put an end to oppression we must all participate because we don’t know the next victim. We must prevent any future occurrence by sending this important signal,” he said.
The unions are also calling for justice for their members said to have been sacked unjustly. The sacked workers include Cashmir Anyanwu, Chris Ohonsi, Chinenye Nworka, Chris Opara all sacked by Newrest Airline Services and Logistics PLC.
Newrest Airline Services and Logistics PLC was established in 1996 to provide catering and related services to airlines operating in Nigeria but the unionists have complained against the inhuman treatments meted against their workers who are union members.
