MANAGEMENT OF Grantley Adams International Airport Inc. (GAIA) is still pondering a new wages and salaries proposal from the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW).
Speaking to the DAILY NATION yesterday at the conclusion of the second day of talks, which reportedly lasted for just over an hour, general secretary Roslyn Smith said they were hoping for a response by today.
She did not elaborate on the proposal because she said they were still in “negotiation mode”, but described talks as “cordial”.
The NUPW was invited back to the table last Thursday after negotiations broke down in mid-November and sparked almost two weeks of protest by staff in the car park of the Seawell, Christ Church facility. There were also reports of a sickout and a go-slow during the period.
Workers maintained that their protest had nothing to do with the ongoing dispute between the union and the Public Service Commission over the alleged “reversion” of union president Akanni McDowall from a senior acting position in Government to his subtantive junior post. The picketing ceased when the two parties went back to the table.
Originally, GAIA had proposed a 15 per cent increase in response to the request for 16 per cent. According to the union, the airport’s counter was later withdrawn on the instructions of Government. (YB)
