Illegal termination: Air Transport staff threatens action against Caverton Helicopters

The Air Transport Senior Staff Services of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has warned of potential action following Caverton Helicopters’ improper sack of its members and withholding dues.

This is coming barely a week after another union, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE) issued its own ultimatum following the company’s infractions.

The union says if the airline fails to rectify the situation by immediate settlement of outstanding payments it will rely on subsisting ultimatum alone or jointly with other victimised unions without further notice.

In a letter dated March 13, 2024, titled ‘Continuous Disregard for Union Demands,’ Comrade Frances Akinjole, the Principal Deputy General Secretary, outlined the grievances.

The letter, also copied to the Director-General Civil Aviation, alleged abuse of court processes and termination of Olayinka Jinadu’s employment without proper settlement.

Jinadu’s severance payments were only initiated after the union intervened through letters dated July 14, 2023, and September 20, 2023.

Despite this, some of Jinadu’s pensions remain unremitted, complicating access, especially considering his deteriorating health.

Moreover, Caverton Helicopters is accused of deliberately withholding the union’s check-off dues.

These concerns were raised at ATSSSAN’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Ibadan earlier this year.

The NEC-in-Council directed action against Caverton Helicopters if the issues were not promptly addressed.

The letter read, “…considering all the abortive painstaking efforts our union had invested in persuading your Management to act responsibly, and considering the Caverton Helicopters’ penchant for abuse of court processes by rushing to court to seek frivolous injunctions for infractions the company willingly perpetrated our union still relies on the subsisting ultimatum whenever we are ready to pull the trigger for the ultimate action, either alone or jointly with other victimised unions without further notice.”