ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A silent threat of renewed industrial action hangs over regional airline LIAT after an intervention on Monday by Minister of Labour Dr Errol Cort failed to yield a resolution in the deteriorating industrial relations facing the airline.
The Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) staged a sickout after the union’s chairman Captain Michael Blackburn was dismissed in controversial circumstances.
Dr Cort had attempted to mediate a solution yesterday in a second round of talks between the airlines and its unions but Technical and Allied Workers Union President Chester Humphrey said his efforts were not successful.
“The situation is one in which the matter has not been resolved. The proposals which were put on the table for a resolution were rejected by LIAT so Blackburn remains dismissed and the ball is now in the hands of the unions to get it resolved,” Humphrey said.
Asked whether the non-resolution would mean a return to industrial action, Humphrey refused to provide a clear answer.
“The media is no place for us to discuss union strategy and tactics and so I can’t answer your question or put it this way, I won’t answer your question,” Humphrey said.
“We made a reasonable proposal for a temporary respite in the deteriorated industrial relations that was rejected out of hand by LIAT, and as matter of that rejection then the parties are poised and the industrial relations situation, its integrity and stability is once again under stress,” the union representative said.
Humphrey said the unions hold that Blackburn’s actions did not warrant a summary dismissal and that the grievance procedure laid out in a collective agreement between the unions and LIAT should have been followed.
He said the unions are not against disciplinary actions being taken against Blackburn if they are deemed necessary, but want him first to be reinstated to his job and put on administrative suspension while the procedure is followed.
“We proposed that the grievance procedure as laid down in the collective agreement and as set out in the law be followed, and LIAT can still pursue whatever disciplinary matters it has with Captain Blackburn,” Humphrey said.
Captain Blackburn was fired with immediate effect on Monday last week, prompting a sickout by all his fellow cockpit crew and cancellation of all trips for two days, an estimated 110 flights per day system-wide.
The coalition of unions calling for the reinstatement of Blackburn is comprised of the Grenada Technical & Allied Workers Union, the Waterfront & Allied Workers Union, the Antigua & Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU), the National Workers Union, LIAT Workers Union, Barbados Workers Union, LIALPA, LIAEA, LIFA and the Management Staff Association.
