The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association Nigeria (ATSSSAN) on Thursday emphasised that workers have the constitutional right to associate.

Mr Ilitrus Ahmadu, the National President of ATSSSAN, said this in his 2025 Workers Day celebration speech on Thursday in Lagos.

Ahmadu urged employers to allow workers to freely join any union of their choice.

“To our tripartite partners/employers, the time for respect for the inalienable constitutional right of workers to associate is long overdue.

“We must respect the constitutional right of workers, the principles of dialogue and collective bargaining as the pathways to healthy industrial relations that will foster growth and prosperity in our industry.

“The consequences of the absence of a healthy industrial relation are certainly chaos and disruptive conducts that will affect the industry in the negative,” he said.

Ahmadu lauded the perseverance and courage of aviation workers.

According to him, amid poor remuneration and high cost of living, members of the association are contributing their best to national development.

“This uncommon resilience speaks courage and our collective desire to continue to fly the flag of our struggle until victory is attained.

“Therefore, to all of you, I say: solidarity forever,” he said.

The unionist also thanked employers for partnership and support, emphasising the importance of dialogue in dispute resolution.

“As a senior staff union, we respect boundaries and we have always embraced dialogue as key to effective dispute resolution, and you are assured we will remain focused.”

NAN