Pilots’ union gives LIAT management new ultimatum

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) this morning issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management of the regional carrier LIAT to implement all of the recommendations of an arbitration panel or face action.

“Everything should be implemented by the 15th (September). Since June 30 of this year the company was aware of the arbitration award, I’ve brought it to their attention several times,” LIALPA chairman Captain Michael Blackburn said on local radio.

“I can’t predict the future. There are all sorts of things that could come up unless they do so.”

Blackburn’s warning comes a day after the airline’s acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brian Challenger announced that the company’s management was moving to put in place measures for implementation of a new LIAT/LIALPA Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Challenger noted that while certain matters were still being clarified, the arbitration award provided the opportunity for a new chapter in the often-acrimonious relationship between LIAT and LIALPA.

“We believe that the…arbitration ruling provide(s) both parties with a blueprint for resolving the many issues that have traditionally plagued our relationship,” Challenger said.

“Based on the ruling from the arbitration panel and following several exchanges of communication with LIALPA we have prepared a draft Collective Agreement which we hope will form the basis for review by both sides and allow for an early signature of the agreement once the remaining areas of clarification are resolved.”

We have already taken action to implement those aspects of the award which had a clear timeline for implementation and we are putting in place the mechanisms to facilitate the necessary administrative and logistical changes, some of which are quite significant to our operations, in order to achieve earliest possible implementation of the agreement,” Challenger added.

But the LIALPA chairman gave notice that the association would not tolerate the company’s unilateral action.

“Implement them all together or come to an agreement with me. You cannot decide to unilaterally implement and cherry pick as you see fit without discussing the matter with the sole bargaining agent for the pilots,” Blackburn said.

The arbitration panel was set up following an agreement brokered by the Prime Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines in July 2009 in an effort to settle long-standing industrial relations issues between the company and its pilots.

The three-man arbitration panel headed by retired Barbadian jurist Sir Leroy Inniss QC handed down its ruling on July 5, 2010.

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