The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has said that it will shut down business activities at Arik Air on August 17th, 2020 over salary arrears and staff layoff.

This was made known in a notice which was signed and sent to all staff of Arik Air by the NUATE’s General Secretary, Ocheme Aba and ATSSSAN’s Deputy General Secretary, Frances Akinjole,

In a notice, the union leaders said the strike will commence on the said date unless the issues at stake are resolved before then.

Among the issues in contention is the fact that there has been no payment of staff salaries in the airline since April after placing 90 percent of the workforce on compulsory leave.

The letter dated August 10, read: “Subsequent to the failure of Arik Air to address the issues raised in the 15-day ultimatum our unions issued to the airline since July 21, 2020 and realising that the window of the 15-day came to an end on Wednesday, August 5, 2020, we are now left with no choice than to inform the management of Arik Air that there is going to be a total withdrawal of services from the airline from the next seven days.

“All staff of Arik Air are therefore notified that from the 17th of August, 2020 all workers should down tools and assemble at places designated by union officials to be guided appropriately. The notice shall remain in force until otherwise directed by our union, “the notice read.