Pilots, Engineers Working With Bristow Embark on Strike on Monday

Pilots and Engineers working with Bristow Helicopters have embarked on strike effective from August 3, 2020, according to the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers.

According to the association, the decision was after the two parties failed to reach an agreement on labour matters and negotiations despite a preceding three-day warning strike.

In a letter referenced Ref NS/GS/NAAPE/vol.051/2020 and signed by Umoh Ofonime, the Deputy National Secretary, NAAPE instructed all its members working with Bristow Helicopters to proceed on strike effective from Monday, August 3, 2020.

The association accused Bristow of: “Insistence on benchmarking salaries of national pilots and engineers to an obsolete rate of N345/$1 coupled with their recent insistence on their proposal to implement N355/$1- a rate which is not obtainable on any legal foreign exchange window in the world while still paying expatriates their full remuneration in USD.

“Failure to train qualified persons for ATPL and failure to fully reimburse individuals who have successfully completed their ATPL through self-sponsorship – a deviation from the agreement in place at the time and disproportionate matching and capped reimbursement cash figure for self-sponsored pilots on ATPL with an employment bond of N30m – an obvious unethical and sharp practice.

“Odious laying off of young cadet and trainee engineers after several years of tearful sacrificial toiling on the basis of a promised career in the company.

“Anomalous implementation of engineers’ matrix/chart/progression and refusal to adjust national engineers’ progression in tandem with expatriate nationals and global aviation standards and the norm of jettisoning negotiated agreements as in the case of systemic dissolution of engineering work shift in Eket operation.”

NAAPE said it has failed to make headway with the management of Bristow despite consistently engaging the management of the Bristow.

The union also accused Bristow of discrimination and victimisation, it said its members were no longer “mentally conditioned to safely deliver their professional obligations” under the harsh environment, hence the strike action.

NAAPE, therefore, advised all its members to withdraw their services to Bristow until the issues are resolved completely.