Talks between the union that represents Bahamasair line staff and government negotiators took a turn for the worse over the weekend with both sides reportedly failing to make any headway on the terms of a new industrial agreement for airline employees.
President of the Airport Airline and Allied Workers Union Nelerene Harding indicated on Saturday that the union was becoming increasingly weary by the failure to reach agreement, and the failure of the government and the airline to budge on their position of a no salary increase during the five-year contract.
Mrs. Harding called a meeting with government negotiators on Saturday unsuccessful and claimed that the union and workers had been disrespected.
She claimed that a verbal confrontation took place, as both sides were continuing talks on salaries. As a result, she said, workers will continue their work-to-rule and she intimated that the industrial action would intensify into a complete withdrawal of labour.
“It is sad to say that the only way for this company to understand and to have people sit down and talk with you without arrogance and ignorance is to withdraw your labour,” Ms. Harding said.
“I think that is level we have reached. We as members of this company have acted in good faith. We have showed patience; itﾒs just the back and forth that is frustrating.”
She said that after standing her ground with the unionﾒs request one government negotiator became agitated and insulting to her, forcing her and her team to leave.
Ms. Harding believes that it is not worth it to attempt to sit down and negotiate at this point, and refuses to return to the bargaining table with the same individual.
According to the union president, when union executives met with Labour Minister Shane Gibson a week ago, it appears that some progress was being made.
The union had been demanding a salary increase of eight percent in the first year of the contract, and Ms. Harding said it was willing to get that increase in the third year instead.
Following the Saturday meeting, Ms. Harding said Minister Gibson was called in to intervene.
Mr. Gibson told The Bahama Journal that he spoke with the union president, and they are scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the matter. The minister said that once he has had an opportunity to review the matter he hopes to have it resolved as soon as possible.
Ms. Harding, meanwhile, said she plans to inform her members about the Saturday meeting, and she said a decision will then be taken regarding the unionﾒs next move.
Chief government negotiator Keith Archer said recently 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 pay cut for each employee, but later pulled that proposal after a round of industrial action appeared to be on the brink of intensifying about two months ago.
Bahamasair Chairman Basil Sands has accused the union of being deceptive in its public statements and has expressed the desire for the contract to be speedily concluded.
The last agreement expired two years ago.
By: Stephen Gay, The Bahama Journal
