BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Officials of the cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, will meet with a delegation of unions representing the airline’s staff in Barbados today in an attempt to quell the latest round of industrial unrest.

LIAT, which is owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines, has already warned passengers to brace for delays and flight cancellations.

“These current irregular operations may continue to occur over the next few days as we work towards resolving the issues. We advise our passengers to contact LIAT’s Reservations Team prior to leaving for the airport”.

But the Leeward Islands Air Pilots Association (LIAPA) has distanced its members from being part of any industrial action at the cash-strapped airline.

The meeting is expected to discuss a move by LIAT to implement a late payment schedule to its employees that is likely to continue for the next five months.

In a statement the airline quoted its chief executive officer, Julie Reifer-Jones as saying that “LIAT’s management sincerely apologises for any disruption to the travel plans of our valued passengers at this time.

“We remain committed to working with our employees to resolve the issues currently impacting the delivery of our service to the Caribbean”.

Last month, the airline sent a letter to the chair of the Standing Regional Consultative Council of Trade Unions within the LIAT System, David Massiah, indicating that the airline’s major shareholders are willing to meet with a delegation from the unions “to have a structured discussion on the current financial position of LIAT, the industrial climate and the future of the airline”.

In a March 30 email to the airline’s staff, Reifer-Jones said that LIAT “is going through a difficult financial situation and has implemented a schedule of delays for salaries for all employees over the next five months.”

She said the financial delays are affecting all airline employees, including the executive team.

Reifer-Jones said the airline was proposing a five-month period as it expects that the situation should improve by the summer months.

“Scheduled payment arrangements have also been implemented for our lessors, engine manufacturer and general suppliers as we work through this difficult period.”