Moontown

Published on: 7/9/2009.

IT’S SLAVERY!

That is how Michael Blackburn, chairman of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIAPA), describes conditions under which members are working, following a court injuction barring them from taking any form of industrial action.

“How can there be an injunction prohibiting employees from taking industrial action against a company in this day and age? All we asked for initially was that a fair and just wage be agreed upon and instead we are expected to work, despite our grievances and not do anything about it. That is slavery.”

On May 22, LIAT was granted an injunction in the industrial court of Antigua and Barbuda restraining its pilots from taking industrial action.

According to the court order: “Pilots are hereby restrained from taking any industrial action or continuing any further industrial action whether by means of strike, go-slow, sick-out or any other related action against LIAT (1974) Limited.”

The injunction was filed after the regional airline was forced to cancel a number of flights in Barbados, Trinidad, Grenada and St Vincent after its pilots reported sick on May 21.

Blackburn, a pilot of 30 years’ experience, described as “a joke” a statement by LIAT’s corporate communications manager Desmond Brown that the company’s pilots were able to talk directly with the management at any time about any matter, including safety.

Blackburn said the injunction had immobilised the union and by extension the basic rights of the pilots.

“We cannot come to you to discuss any problem if there is an injunction that is so broad. We are barred from any form of industrial action and it has immobilised the union so what is there to talk about?”

Blackburn said that both parties agreed to arbitration but no date had yet been set to discuss a single issue.

He also said there was a major safety concern: LIAT’s navigation system was outdated and unsuitable for long flights, mainly the route from Barbados to Guyana.

“We have to travel 400 miles over the Atlantic Ocean to Guyana and the navigation system used is for short range.

Travelling to Trinidad first and then to Guyana would make it easy to use the current system, Blackburn said, but that meant more fuel and more expense - an option management would not consider “any time soon”.

The pilots’ union boss said the underlying issue was that LIAT’s pilots were being paid 30 per cent less than the worst paid pilots in the world and did not receive overtime. (PCA)

SPLIT PEAS AND RICE; CHICKEN PELAU

COW HEEL SOUP; CORN MEAL COU COU

SAUTEE POTATOES; BAKED PORK; 

BAKED CHICKEN; FRIED SNAPPERS; 

GRILLED TUNA; SEA CAT

FRIED FLYING FISH; BBQ PIG TAIL

STEAMED VEGS; SALAD

DRESSMAKERS should soon be busy fashioning these pieces of material into smart-looking uniforms. (Picture by Cherie Pitt)

Published on: 7/9/2009.

ONLY ONE WEEK of the summer vacation has gone, but parents are already getting the jump on back-to-school shopping.

Not only do they want to get the necessary chore out of the way, but after last year’s fire at Yankee Garments, they are taking no chances.

Staff at Cave Shepherd were busy cutting material and helping customers with shirts, pants and overalls with room to allow for summer growth.

“This is the first time that I’m shopping so early because last year, due to the fact that they had the burning and stuff like that, I didn’t get much things [so] I’m coming early this year,” said one woman who declined to give her name.

Lisa Coyle was among the early birds, making sure her three children had what they needed.

“They have the stock in now, and I know the factory burnt [last year], so I’m buying it now that I know it’s here. I’m just buying larger sizes, so that after summer when the children grow, it should be good,” said Coyle.

One woman who gave her name as Francine, said she had already spent $600 on shirts, pants and books for her two sons and still had to look for shoes and bags.

Over by the shoes, Rosalind Campbell was making sure her girls got the right fit and the right brand of shoe.

“Brown shoes are hard to come by. You have got to get a good brand or you’ll be back at the end of every term,” she said.

Corporate communications manager Hugh Durant said Cave Shepherd had its share of early shoppers from among people who were going overseas and those who saved for back-to-school shopping.

He said the company had placed orders in March and expected to have full stock by the middle of July, in time for the usual rush after Kadooment in August.

Managing director of Woolworth, Martin Bryan, said people started shopping from the time school ended.

“First-time parents, the ones whose kids are now going into primary school and secondary school, were the ones that first started coming in with lists. This year we’re actually carrying for the first time epaulettes, bands for the girls [and] specialty socks,” he said.

Noting that the rush normally started after Kadooment when “the reality of school beckoned”, Bryan said shopping started a little earlier this year.

“Certainly this week [Friday and Saturday] we saw people coming in . . . . It was reasonably brisk with back-to-school shoppers who are coming in for primarily stationery and uniforms,” he said.

While the store has the full supply of stationery, books, lunch boxes and book bags, Bryan said Woolworth was still awaiting some garments from their major supplier Yankee Garments.

“They have assured me that we should get everything by the middle of July, with a few exceptions. So I keep telling our customers ‘don’t panic’.” (YB)