Barely two to three weeks it signed a deal with workers union and agreed to pay up arrears owed workers which had forced them to down tools, Arik Air has failed to pay salaries arrears to workers a development that has angered the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The agreement was witnessed even by NCAA before work resumed but the latest development may not go down well with the regulator after all.
Though sources say management has set a meeting with the frustrated workers later this week, probably to discuss the salaries arrears issue, there seems to be no sign of strike.
An official hinted on grounds of anonymity that contrary to the information that was dished out to the public, the airline was owing the workers more than the two months wages it claimed, saying that for instance, he was being owed about seven months’ salaries, including for December.
“We all expected them to pay us at least in December so that we could use our money for the new year celebration, but they failed again,” he said. “As it is, no one knows when the salaries arrears would be paid to workers because they have refused to communicate to us. We are just working without pay. Everyone is tired and we are depending on the unions and NCAA to intervene once again.”
Business Hilights recalls that in the deal sealed before work resumed at Arik Air last month, the company was supposed to pay the first batch of salaries arrears on December 23, and the November salary on December 31, deadlines it has now failed to meet.
NCAA had intervened in the picketing of the airline by the unions over the non-payment of salaries and illegal deductions from its members in its employment.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting called by the NCAA stated that the unions agreed to shelve the strike following the intervention of the regulatory authority.
