Caribbean Airlines granted ex-parte injunction against ‘sick’ pilots

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – The Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago has granted an ex-parte injunction to the state-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) whose services have been severely affected by a sickout by pilots, resulting in the cancellation of several domestic, regional and international flights.

The injunction was granted against the Trinidad and Tobago Airlines Pilots Association (TTALPA), preventing its president, executive members as well as their servants or agents from “taking or continuing to take and/or participating howsoever in industrial action within the meaning of the Industrial Relations Act…including calling in sick en masse.”

The court has also ordered that TTALPA direct “forthwith” to instruct or direct CAL workers who are its members to “immediately report for duty as rostered and as they are required to do in the normal course of their employment.”

The Industrial Court said that its orders should continue “until further order” and that the application for the ex-party injunction “be returnable on the 28th day of September 2023, at the hour of 9:30”.

In a penal clause attached to the order, the TTALPA is warned that should it or its members disobey the order “you will be liable to the process of execution for the purpose of compelling you to obey…”

In a statement on Sunday, CAL said that there have been “disruptions to its operations…due to cockpit crew constraints.

“The airline is experiencing delays and cancellations to many of its international and domestic services. Affected customers are being advised and will be re-accommodated on the first available services.

“There has been a remarkably high volume of calls from pilots reporting that they are unwell and unable to report for duty. These calls came in at approximately three hours prior to flight departure times. It is to be noted that the airline is currently in negotiations with the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association over a collective agreement for the period 2015-2016.”

CAL said as a result it has had to cancel several flights.

Local media reports said that the employees of the airline had taken industrial action after wage negotiations had broken down.

But, the TTALPA denied that there has been a sickout or industrial action, saying it was “unaware of any strike action being taken by the pilot body”.

The association said that in accordance with Section 67(2) of the Industrial Relations Act, Chapter 88:01 the pilot body and its members are barred from taking such industrial action since any employer or worker engaged in an essential service is barred from taking industrial action.

TTAPA said it has assured the public that “its members continue to fly with their safety and best interests at heart”.

The cancellation of the flights has left several passengers stranded with some complaining that they were not informed about the situation.

In a statement issued late on Sunday night, CAL said that recovery flights were available for affected Miami/Fort Lauderdale passengers.

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