Chief government negotiator Keith Archer said Monday that the government views its offer to Bahamasair workers as reasonable and he expressed surprise over reports that the union that represents airline workers was contemplating industrial action.
The government had originally proposed a 5 percent paycut for each employee, but later pulled that proposal after a round of industrial action appeared to be on the brink of intensifying about six weeks ago.
Mr. Archer pointed out on Monday that the government had submitted a new proposal for an industrial contract and he said that officials were awaiting a counterproposal from the Airport Airline and Allied Workers Union (AAAWU).
According to AAAWU President Nelerene Harding, the government is offering New Providence and Grand Bahama union members a $500 lump sum each year for the first three years of the contract. Family Island employees are being offered a $300 lump sum each year for the first three years.
The government is offering no increments during that period, but increments would be paid in the last two years of the contract if they are earned by the employees.
Mr. Archer confirmed this.
The union wants an 8 percent salary increase for each employee during the first year of the contract and increments each year.
But Mr. Archer believes that what the government is offering essentially amounts to raises for the employees.
However, government officials are seeking to avoid any significant increase in expenditure for the airline which continues to face financial challenges as a result of high fuel costs and stiff competition from low cost carriers.
Last night, union executives called a general meeting with members and Ms. Harding told the Bahama Journal on Monday evening that the union would decide its next move based on the outcome of that meeting.
She has indicated that industrial action may not be that far off if the government refuses to budge from its no-salary increases position.
“What they offered us is totally unacceptable to the membership and totally unacceptable to the executives of the AAAWU,” Ms. Harding said last Friday.
Prime Minister Perry Christie, who has ministerial responsibility for the national airline, also reportedly got involved in the matter yesterday as industrial tension increased.
Bahamasair Chairman Basil Sands was not available to comment on the matter yesterday.
By: Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
