LIAT Pilots Willing to Work on Holidays if Paid

The Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) has stressed that contrary to reports appearing in the regional media, its members are not opposed to working on Public Holidays, but are desirous of being adequately compensated as is the case with other employees in the air transport industry. This was stated in an official release issued by the Association.

The release quotes Chapter 27 of the Antigua and Barbuda Labor Code Section C 15 (2) which states that if an employee works on a Public Holiday, he/she shall be paid, in addition to any wage which he/she would have received, in respect of the Public Holiday, an hourly rate of not less than 150 percentage of this basic rate per hour worked.

This, according to the LIALPA release, is, in fact, one of five unresolved issues of concern to the Association and the body has retained the services of prominent Barbadian Queen’s Counsel, Sir Richard Cheltenham to provide counsel and advice in the matter.

Captain Michael Blackburn, Chairman of LIALPA, said the Pilots of LIAT were being forced to accept Public Holidays as annual vacation. He said that other long-standing unresolved issues, which have been brought to the attention of Antigua’s Labor Commissioner, but totally ignored by the management of LIAT, include training Captains working as line co-pilots outside of training; LIAT’s refusal to provide leave for complex Pilot medicals which can last as long as two days; and LIAT’s refusal to compensate Pilots for overtime worked as per C27 of the Antigua and Barbuda Labor Code.

Captain Blackburn disclosed that the Association’s collective agreement with LIAT expired some twelve years ago. He said his members were eager to get back to the negotiation table and have the unresolved matters amicably settled in the interest of all concerned.