Many passengers were left stranded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday after aviation labour unions commenced picketing of Air Peace over alleged anti-union practices and outstanding regulatory charges.

The action, which began in the early hours of Tuesday, disrupted the airline’s flight operations, leaving passengers scheduled to travel on Air Peace unable to board their flights.

The unions involved in the industrial action are the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, with the backing of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

The unions had on August 4 issued a notice warning that they could commence picketing of the airline “at any time without further notice” if Air Peace failed to resolve the issues raised against it.

They said they had exercised considerable restraint and allowed the airline several weeks to address the grievances through dialogue before resorting to industrial action.

Among the issues cited by the unions was an alleged refusal by Air Peace to allow some of its employees to freely join trade unions, despite repeated engagements aimed at securing recognition of workers’ right to freedom of association.

The labour groups also accused the airline of failing to remit ticket sales charges allegedly owed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

According to the unions, previous discussions and attempts to resolve the disputes had failed to produce the desired outcome, leaving them with no option but to commence the picketing.

They said the action was aimed at compelling Air Peace to respect workers’ rights, fulfil its financial obligations to the aviation regulator and resolve other outstanding issues.

The unions maintained that the industrial action followed the failure of dialogue and other avenues for resolving the disputes.

“We want unequivocal declarations through circulars and other direct means of communication to their staff that they are free to join unions of their choices without fear of victimisation.

“We want an immediate remittance of the seized operational funds of the aviation agencies to allow for the implementation of the conditions of service of our members in the various aviation agencies,” the union said.