The recent conflict between Turkish Airlines and its Nigerian staff has intensified due to the airline terminating seven employees for alleged violations of ticket reservation rules, resulting in financial losses exceeding $600,000.
This development follows the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) staging a protest at the airline’s Lagos office, causing flight disruptions and leaving approximately 300 passengers stranded. NUATE has accused Turkish Airlines of unfairly targeting union members with false accusations to weaken the union. Turkish Airlines, however, has denied these allegations, stating that the dismissals were warranted due to the economic harm caused by the employee’s actions.
The airline’s statement emphasized the importance of correcting misinformation for the sake of customers and the company’s reputation. Turkish Airlines disclosed that the dismissals were a result of employees engaging in ticket racketeering and violating reservation policies, leading to substantial financial losses.
Following the disciplinary proceedings involving the union, where evidence of misconduct was presented, the airline offered the employees the choice to resign voluntarily. While three employees opted to resign, the remaining four refused and the union declined to sign off on disciplinary actions.
The conflict between the airline’s management and the union indicates broader issues concerning labour rights and management practices in Nigeria’s airline industry. Both sides remain firm in their stances, suggesting that resolving the dispute may necessitate further negotiations or regulatory intervention.
