The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) said it had commenced talks with the management of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) over an alleged plan to retrench some HAHCO workers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the labour group had on September14 written a letter to the Managing Director of NAHCO, Mr. Nobert Bielderman, accusing the company of planning to sack some workers.

The union also accused the company of not giving priority to training and welfare of its workforce.

The Assistant General-Secretary of NUATE, Mr. Olayinka Abioye, told NAN in an interview in Lagos that the union had started talking with NAHCO’s management because it believed in dialogue.

“However, this does not also mean that all is well.

“We have given them certain conditions to meet latest by September18. If they are able to meet them, then everything will be resolved soonest.”

But NACHO had in a statement signed by its Manager, Communications and Corporate Services, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye, debunked the union's claims.

The statement said: “Even so, allegation of non-training of staff is widely off the mark.

“As we speak, 32 staff are on their way to South Africa on training to handle one of the major foreign airlines.

“Other staff are similarly on training for various airlines. The 100 per cent certification from ICAO was related to training compliance.

“A more diligent effort by the unions would have revealed how much was budgeted for training in the last two years and how the money was utilised.” (NAN)