Chevron workers' industrial action disrupts Antigua airport fuelling

Chevron fuel attendants at the V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua stayed off the job Monday, the third consecutive day, to press their demands for severance payments.

As a result of the workers' action, airlines flying in and out of Antigua are unable to fuel up at the V.C. Bird airport.

The workers staged a 'sick-out' Saturday over what their representative, the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union, said was Chevron's failure to reach agreement on the contentious issues.

The US-based energy company announced last year that it was selling the major portion of its fuels marketing and aviation businesses in the English and French-speaking Caribbean to a French company. The Jamaican assets were not included but Chevron has said it will consider offers.

In January the ABWU had warned that it would take industrial action if Chevron workers at the airport were not paid severance by February 1.

President of the Airline Association at V.C. Bird International Bernard Ho said while the action has had a severe impact on airlines, there has been no cancellations up to early Monday.

Desmond Brown, corporate communications manager for the regional airline LIAT, which is headquartered in Antigua, said the carrier has been uplifting additional fuel at the outstations, allowing its flights to stay on schedule.

"On Saturday we had to re-route some flights through St Kitts to uplift fuel," Brown said.

- CMC