Union challenges LIAT CEO's claims

St John's (CMC):

The Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) yesterday described as "false and misleading" statements made on a local radio station by Brian Challenger, the chief executive officer of the regional airline, LIAT.

LIALPA said statements made by Challenger that the Antigua-based airline was moving towards full implementation of all rulings by the arbitration panel were "far from the truth".

The pilots' union is also claiming that the airline continues to breach the collective agreement by posting a revised seniority list that contains pilots who have been appointed to permanent administrative positions. "This is in flagrant violation of the tribunal's award ruling, which stated, "If a pilot accepts a permanent administrative appointment with LIAT, he is no longer part of the collective agreement and is not entitled to any benefits negotiation by LIALPA," LIALPA said, adding also that the company has been reluctant to schedule meal breaks for the pilots as specified in the arbitration ruling.

The union is also claiming that its executive members employment contracts with LIAT were under threat and that the chairman of the Regional Consultative Council of Trade Unions within the LIAT System, Senator Chester Humphreys of Grenada, has since written to Challenger "informing him of his deep concern about deteriorating industrial relations in LIAT and the singling out of union leaders for unfair treatment".