The regional airline , LIAT, could be hit with more industrial action after talks between disgruntled unions and the airline over the dismissal of one of its senior pilots last week failed broke down yesterday.
Chester Humphrey, chairman of the regional grouping of trade unions representing LIAT workers, said the two and a half hour discussions mediated by Antigua and Barbuda’s Labour Minister, Dr. Errol Cort broke down without an agreement on reinstating Captain Michael Blackburn, who was dismissed with immediate effect last week.
The airline, which operates 110 schedule flights daily, has maintained its position regarding the decision to dismiss the experienced Blackburn indicating there were “appropriate remedies” for their grievance under the established procedures of the Labour Code and other legislation.
Last week, pilots with the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) reported sick for duty in support of Blackburn, who is also the LIALP chairman.
Humphrey today said LIAT management refused to budge on the union’s position that Blackburn was dismissed for exercising his right to freedom of speech as a trade unionist.
Humphrey said Blackburn “expressed a view and he is entitled to and he spoke in his capacity as leader of LIALPA. He was called at home while he was on down time by a regional radio station, and questioned about developing industrial relations issues within LIAT.
”The company did not follow the process where a disciplinary matter arises that could lead to disciplinary action that a certain procedure had to be followed, the company did not follow the procedure,” Humphrey added.
“We proposed to the company that since this was not a rights issue and it was not a summary offence, that Blackburn’s employment contract ought to be reinstated and he be sent on administrative leave while the procedure and process of dealing with the disciplinary matter be followed.”
But he told CMC that the company was not prepared to meet that concession and “we felt that this is was a sensible way to go because that would allow for the restoration of the industrial relation integrity at the company.
“The company claimed that this strike has lost several million dollars. I think it was calculated somewhere in the vicinity of two million dollars a day.” (CMC)