'You will be home for Christmas'

Mere days after a trade union leader warned of imminent disruptions, the management of regional airline LIAT has assured its customers and the travelling public that it will continue to serve them during the busy Christmas season by maintaining its scheduled services.

"The company confirms that efforts are continuing to respond to the various labour and other issues which have caused our customers to be concerned about further disruptions to our schedule," LIAT spokesman Desmond Brown said.

LIAT remains in dialogue with the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) on areas of concern to the pilots' union in discussions which have remained frank and respectful.

Discussions are also ongoing with various unions aimed at addressing a number of the other concerns which have arisen between the company and its employees."

Earlier this week, Chester Humphrey, chairman of the regional grouping of trade unions representing LIAT workers, warned the company it could be hit with more industrial action after talks between disgruntled unions and the airline over the dismissal of one of its senior pilots last week broke down last Monday.

LIALPA is pressing the company to reinstate Captain Michael Blackburn, who was dismissed with immediate effect on December 5.

On December 6 and 7, pilots reported sick for duty in support of Blackburn, who is also the LIALPA chairman.

Humphrey told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that LIAT management refused to budge on the union's position that Blackburn was dismissed for exercising his right to freedom of speech as a trade unionist.

He insists it is not a criminal case of mischief as the company could have gone to police.

Procedure not followed

Humphrey said that Blackburn "expressed a view and he is entitled to do so and he spoke in his capacity as leader of LIALPA. He was called at home while he was on down time by a regional radio station, and questioned about developing industrial relations issues within LIAT.

"The company did not follow the process where a disciplinary matter arises that could lead to disciplinary action that a certain procedure had to be followed, the company did not follow the procedure," added Humphrey.

"We proposed to the company that since this was not a rights issue and it was not a summary offence that Blackburn's employment contract ought to be reinstated and he be sent on administrative leave while the procedure and process of dealing with the disciplinary matter be followed."

But he told CMC that the company was not prepared to meet that concession and "we felt that this it was a sensible way to go because that would allow for the restoration of the industrial relation integrity at the company".