Nigeria: South African Airways workers win union recognition
July 31, 2018
ITF affiliate, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) of Nigeria has won union recognition in South African Airways.
NUATE’s victory comes after an eight-year-long struggle with the company. The union has been trying to organise South African Airways workers in Nigeria since 2010.
The airline management always found excuses to kick the process into the long grass and denied its Nigerian workforce their fundamental right of Freedom of Association as enshrined in Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution as well as the ILO Conventions 87 and 98.
On 25 July, local management agreed to recognise NUATE and the union is now in the process of starting collective bargaining negotiations with the company.
The union had earlier organized Emirates Airlines in Nigeria. Their next target is Qatar Airways.
Gabriel Mocho Rodriguez, ITF aviation secretary, said: “We stand shoulder to shoulder with the brothers and sisters of the NUATE in their struggle to achieve trade union recognition and collective bargaining recognition at South African Airways in Nigeria. As part of our global campaign, we will also support them in their attempt to organise Qatar Airways workers in their home country.”
Tags: National Union of Air Transport Employees, Nigeria, NUATE, organising, South African Airways, union organising