Pilots, Engineers To Ground Bristow Helicopters Operations Thursday

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) is to ground the operations of Bristol Helicopters beginning from February 1, 2018, following the total breakdown of the negotiation between the two parties.

The decision to declare industrial action against Bristow Helicopters was made known in an online statement signed by the General Secretary of NAAPE, Comrade Aba Ocheme .

Ocheme in the statement stated that the discussion between Bristol and NAAPE had broken down completely due to refusal of the management of the rotary giant to address the issues raised by the union.

He listed the issues to include: unabated abuses of Nigeria’s expatriate quota law, bastardisation of negotiated condition of service, witch-hunting and victimization of union members which has led to arbitrary sack of members and forced work without pay

Other matters the led the union to embark on strike from tomorrow are : declaration of redundancy and refusing to offer justifiable reasons while bidding for time to render potential victim helpless and deliberate policy to withdraw progression from nationals to pave way for their continued domination by expatriates.

He added that NAAPE members could not bear the excruciating conditions in the company and with the management of Bristol not ready to address these issues; the association has no other option than to compel it to do the right thing.

“Accordingly, all pilots, engineers in Bristol Group at all bases in Nigeria are hereby directed by the National Executive Council to commence industrial action with effect from oohrs on Thursday, February 1, 2018,”Ocheme directed.

He urged members to ensure that the strike is total and indefinite unless the NEC that has the power to call of the strike says otherwise, when all the issues in contention have been resolved equitably

The General Secretary warned detractors and expatriates to steer clear of from any act of sabotage, as NAAPE will not hesitate to declare them not only as saboteurs but also as enemies.

Credit: abelnewsng