BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – OVER 130 LIAT flights have been cancelled so far after industrial action was taken by the company’s pilots yesterday (June 16).
Sickouts by the pilots brought a major disruption in inter-regional travel yesterday and over 3000 confirmed passengers have been left stranded at airports as a result of cancelled flights.
The action comes days after the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) threatened to walk out if LIAT management did not retract and apologize for statements made in a Monday (June 14) press release, by midnight Tuesday.
LIAT’s statement indicated that in July last year, “all disputed issues between LIAT and LIALPA, including that of retroactive pay were discussed at a meeting of the Company’s three shareholder Prime Ministers held in St Vincent...[and] an agreement was reached between the parties on a course of action for resolving them.”
LIALPA argues that the issue of retroactive pay was never resolved and stressed that LIAT representatives must first apologize for the “false” statement. Up until last night, no agreement was made by the authorities involved.
The sick-outs come in the middle of Vinci Mas, days before the Digicel Home Series Test match between South Africa and West Indies in St. Kitts, and one week before the much-anticipated St. Kitts Music Festival. Minister of Tourism and International Transport Hon. Richard Skerritt said the disruption in flights is hurting the entire region.
“It’s a tragedy for the entire region and a strong indication that this state of affairs and uncertainty is not sustainable. It is hurting the tourism industry and affecting travel across the region; it is setting back a lot of the progress that LIAT has made over the years.
“I hope the pilots understand what they are causing by this industrial action. I really hope they can find good sense and bring this thing to an end,” Skerritt said.
The minister added that he was contacted by LIAT management, apologizing for any inconvenience caused. They also assured that they would be doing all in the power to resolve the matter.
The pilots have two days which they can be absent from work without written medical letters, and LIAT Corporate Communications Manager Desmond Brown said it seems the flight cancellations may continue into this afternoon.
Passengers are advised to contact their local LIAT airport office or the LIAT Call Centre for flight information before proceeding to the airport. Affected passengers will be allowed to rebook without any additional fees. Passengers who no longer wish to travel as planned, due to the disruption, will be issued a full credit for future travel on LIAT.
The company apologised for the inconvenience caused as a result of the industrial action and assured passengers that it will issue regular updates as the sick-out develops.
