BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THOUSANDS of residents within the Caribbean are still stranded due to the sick-out of the LIAT (1974) Ltd.'s pilots which is in its third day, once again causing a disruption in some of the scheduled flights.
LIAT issued an advisory at 7:00 a.m. today informing passengers that the pilot sick-out is continuing but on a limited basis.
"Some pilots have reported for duty and as a result most flights are now expected to operate. Due to the continued action by the pilots, passengers are advised that there may be further cancellations or rescheduling of flights throughout the day," the advisory said.
This industrial action started on Tuesday (Dec. 6), one day after the Company terminated its employment relationship with Captain Michael Blackburn, Chairman of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA). The manner in which the matter was handled is stated to be at the heart of the pilots' industrial action.
Managment of LIAT who have been mum on the issue of firing Blackburn on Monday (Dec. 5) has finally made public the reasons for his dismissal.
In a statement issued sometime yesterday (Dec. 7), management first confirmed that the industrial action taken by its pilots is as a result of their sacking of Blackburn, and that the action [sick-out] is supported by the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA).
"This action was a response by LIALPA to the summary dismissal by LIAT of Captain Michael Blackburn, a senior pilot within the company."
The statement explained that Blackburn made statements that were not in favour of the Company and could have possibly hurt the reputation of LIAT, noting that the actions taken by the pilots as a result, were misguided and selfish.
"In particular it is felt that Captain Blackburn’s statements with regard to the safety standards of the airline and the capability of its management were a deliberate attempt to bring the company into public disrepute. These statements, including those relating to safety have received widespread publicity throughout the region, and indeed the world, painting an unfair and distorted picture of LIAT’s operations and bringing the safety and reliability of the airline into question.
"These actions can only hurt LIAT. In that regard the action by the pilots, while we may understand the emotions involved, are at best misguided and at worst selfish," Management said.
Management stated that they acted only after cautious contemplation and after seeking proper guidance on what action to take.
"This action by the company, taken after long and careful consideration, reflects the advice received from various legal sources that Captain Blackburn’s behavior, and in particular his recent statements on the radio, had effectively destroyed the requirement for professional respect expected between an employer and its employees. In this case, summary dismissal as contemplated under the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Code was recommended as the appropriate course of action."
Management made mention of the current economic crisis, stating that their own situation is particularly grave given the fact that the Company now faces intense competition in the region, also noting that "during this time actions which needlessly alienate our customers and rack up huge cost cannot be condoned".
Management is urging LIALPA to seek proper remedies for its grievance under the established procedures of the Labour Code and other legislation, noting that sick-outs and other forms of industrial action is not going to achieve the desired ends and will cost LIAT millions of dollars which it cannot afford at this, or any other time.
"In particular the company wishes to place on record that the recent action in relation to Captain Blackburn does not represent any attempt by the company to interfere with the collective bargaining process. The company will continue to attempt to engage with its 10 union representative bodies in a manner which allows for respectful dialogue and exchange aimed at promoting the advancement of the company and its employees," the statement ended.
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