ST JOHN’S, Antigua, May 22 2017 – There are signs of fresh problems brewing at the cash-strapped regional airline LIAT.
Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) issued a statement Monday to inform the that its relationship with the airline’s management is currently strained and has deteriorated to an all-time low.
LIALPA said since late 2012, it has engaged LIAT in negotiations for a new salary structure for its ATR-72 aircraft (not covered under the current MOA) and general salary increases.
It said that after years of stalling and legal maneuvering by LIAT, including the company filing legal action in both the High and Industrial Courts, the association in the spirit of fostering and maintaining a good relationship with LIAT accepted the company’s salary package offer in January 2017.
“We accepted this deal on the premise that the pilots would make this a one-off concession to ensure the survival of the company,” LIALPA said.
“To date LIAT has not honoured this agreement with LIALPA and has even gone so far as to reject our Attorney’s suggestion, that a Consent Order be obtained in the Industrial Court to formalize the salary agreement (which covers the years 2012-2017) thus paving the way for its implementation.
“In light of the aforementioned it is our view that LIAT continues to act in bad faith. This is also evident by the company’s insistence to unilaterally impose, yet another salary deferral programme on the pilots even though the association has publicly objected and rejected this programme,” LIALP said.
The pilots’ union noted that it also made its position very pellucid to the Board of Directors and Shareholders at a widely-publicized meeting held in Barbados on April 4, 2017.
“Management also continues to ignore the fact that the Association has placed this matter before the Industrial Court for determination.
As a result of LIAT’s actions and the volatility of this situation, LIALPA would like to once again make a final appeal to LIAT to honour its agreement with the pilots by June 1st, 2017, in order to avoid any further escalation of this matter. Failure to do so would leave the Association with no other choice but to act, so as to protect the interest and rights of its membership. We trust that LIAT would change its present course and respect the basic principles of industrial relations and collective bargaining,” LIALPA said.
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