Trade unions reject LIAT meeting

The trade unions representing regional carrier LIAT’s workers have turned down the airline’s invitation for talks today to discuss possible job cuts, as the carrier moves to trim its workforce to 800 employees by year-end.



In a letter to the airline that was faxed to the media, Grenadian trade unionist Senator Chester Humphrey – who chairs the group of ten unions in LIAT’s network – said unions would not be discussing the mass termination of LIAT employees as an isolated matter.



LIAT had invited unions, which represent its employees, throughout the region to a meeting today to discuss a programme of staff reduction over the next two months, which is aimed at reducing staff to sustainable levels.



The union groups instead opted to attend a meeting of the cash-strapped regional carrier’s shareholder governments with its board of directors.



At that meeting, the unions said, they would be willing to discuss a comprehensive restructuring plan for the airline which will include an assessment of the airline’s team, staffing levels and an in-house mechanism for resolving industrial disputes.



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