News: SAHCOL May Sack 250 Workers Over 'Redundancy'

Skyway Aviation Handling Company, SAHCOL, may any moment from now disengage about 250 workers from its payroll over what it termed "rightsizing and redundancy."

This is also as the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO Plc, has finally agreed to promote 400 staff, who had not been promoted for over eight years.

A source in SAHCOL yesterday told our correspondent that the management had drawn up list of those to be sacked with three months gross pay as compensation irrespective of the number of years they have put into the company.

According to the source, the management gave the poor economy as an excuse to lay off the workers.

Acting General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Workers, NUATE, Comrade Olainka Abioye confirmed the development in an interview with our correspondent.

He, however, said the unions would not assent to such maltreatment of workers in the ground handling company.

Spokesman for NAHCO, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye confirmed an ongoing meeting with the industry unions, but noted that both parties were yet to reach agreements on contending issues.

He told our correspondent on phone that NAHCO’s in-house unions would meet soon with the management, stressing that the board of directors would eventually determine the issues raised, especially as it pertains to promotion and alleged plan to sack some.

Abioye said the management had already notified the two unions; NUATE and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, of its intent to sack some workers, stressing that following Section 20 of the Trade Union Act, the unions had commenced dialogue with the company.

He however said the proposal from the management was insignificant when compared to the demand of the unions and described the stands of the management as callous.

He pointed out that several of the workers had spent up to five years in SAHCOL after its privatization and wondered why they would only be remunerated with just three months’ pay.

At NAHCO, he informed that after the marathon meeting, which lasted for about six hours on Tuesday, management had finally agreed to promote the 400 employees who were due for promotion, but not promoted.

He said the list of those to be promoted may be released today. The union had on Monday, also raised the alarm of plan by management to sack some of its workforce.

Source: National Mirror