The chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), John Ogala, explains why the unions are reevaluating their opposition to concession. Ogala, who recently announced his plan to run for president of ATSSSAN, one of the major aviation unions, maintains that before airport concessions are finalized, all worker-related issues must be settled. Take a look! 00:08/03:11 10 Sec As you run for ATSSSAN president, what kind of union reform do you hope to implement?Strikes are the last instrument in unionism, but they shouldn’t be utilized constantly. In unionism, we need to engage on issues. In order to realize that all concerns pertaining to welfare and union operations may be settled on the table, we will establish an enabling climate of trust between ourselves and the management or governments. Because we are organized labor unions, we do more than just make decisions. When you wish to accomplish a certain objective, you can even engage in advocacy and lobbying. Softening the ground, being accessible, and coming up with data are the greatest ways to avoid some problems.Today’s unionism is deficient in ability and knowledge gaps. In order to help union leaders become more competent in their interactions with organizations and governments, I plan to increase my own competence as a union leader. This would be carried out throughout all ATSSSAN branches.What plans do you have for your members who are employed by private companies within the system? I will visit every organization where we have members within my first month in office. As of right now, ATSSSAN has 16 organizations with members, among which there are roughly 11 private organizations and five government entities.The International Labour Organization (ILO) recommends that employers give their employees pleasant workspaces and resources. I plan to discuss these concerns with the different managements where our members are located.As a union leader, what are your thoughts on the federal government’s proposed airport concession? We have been adamantly opposed to concessions for the past eight years or more, but we have come to the realization that they are here to stay. One of the main causes is that the government does not have the money to renovate airports. There are no regional aviation industry standards; instead, aviation standards are worldwide. You will concur with me that our airports are not performing up to par, and the government claims it lacks the funding to invest in this industry.
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