Business
LIAT city offices soon to close
The airline’s management and unions have reached agreement on the month-end closure of the offices all across the region.
After 18 months of rocky negotiations on the closure of Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT)’s remaining city ticketing offices (CTOs) all across the region, management and unions representing workers at the airline have agreed to a July 31 closure.
The two sides sealed the deal on Monday, marking an end to the talks that had been turbulent at times.
When the city offices are closed, travelers will have to book tickets on LIAT at the airport offices, by phone, online or through travel agents.
Chairman of the Regional Consultative Council of Trade Unions within the LIAT System, Senator Chester Humphrey, told the media in Antigua where the agreement was signed, that some of the workers at the CTOs may be re-employed in other areas of the airline’s operations.
He explained that it would be determined by seniority of service and what vacancies arise as a result of employees taking the Voluntary Separation (VSEP) and Early Retirement Package first offered by the company in May.
“The company is in multiple discussions with the individual unions now to look at what vacancies have arisen, which workers have accepted the VSEP, which workers can be offered positions based on the skill requirements. And where lateral transfers are applicable, then before you retrench a person you will offer the lateral transfer,” he said.
About 40 workers are employed at the CTOs in Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent – six of LIAT’s over 20 destinations.
Source: Caribbean360
