Bahamasair pilots return to work – Christmas flight backlog to be cleared by 7pm

As of Wednesday, December 24, 2014

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMASAIR pilots returned to work this morning, two days after staging a sick out leaving thousands of Christmas holiday travellers stranded.

Labour Minister Shane Gibson confirmed to The Tribune that all scheduled pilots showed up for work at 5am - however the backlog of flights is not expected to be cleared until after 7pm.

Mr Gibson said an investigation has been launched to determine whether the pilots were actually sick or if they took illegal industrial action.

"They all went back to work, so everything should be returning to normal shortly," the minister said. "There will be some sort of repercussions for their actions unless they were legitimately sick. Now, if we found out that someone coerced a group of persons to take days off, then that is a different matter.

"Bahamasair will be investigating and will pass that information on to us and we will go from there. We expect to begin negotiations with the union in the New Year but I can say for now they have all returned to work."

Bahamasair's Managing Director Henry Woods said while all Bahamasair planes are operational today and the pilots have returned to work, it will take several hours before they catch up.

"We hope by 7pm to have the backlog cleared,'" Mr Woods said. "We also have several 'wet leases' out of Florida that are assisting us with people from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Everything will be cleared up, passengers and bags, by this evening."

"We have done several things to accommodate people. We put a lot of people in hotels who missed connections and had to pay for them to go on other carriers. We also extended vouchers in terms of future tickets.

"Most importantly, we have to ensure that this does not happen again. We cannot have a group of several persons holding people hostage, especially during our busiest time. We all know what happened; we feel as though this was unlawful industrial action and we will compile a report and send it to the minister. This will never happen again, something will be done. The public deserves better."

The sick out began on Monday afternoon and continued yesterday, leaving the airline’s domestic and international flights grounded.

On Tuesday, Captain Joseph Moxey, the president of the Bahamas Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), said his members are “not being unreasonable” in their demands. He apologised to the public for the situation but said the pilots are “stressed out and mentally drained” and it is not safe for them to fly a plane in that state.

"We have always been reasonable with the company in every regard,” he said. “The company is offering us half increments for three years when we have already given up two years which will be ‘13 and ‘14. We have given that up in full, only three years will be left in the contract and they are offering half increments at three years, which means for the entire five-year contract we would have received one and a half increment.

“That is a slap in the face. We said, we’ll give you two years, that’s not a problem, but the same what BEC got. Give us the lump sum along with the three-year increment added to the salary.”

EnoughIsEnough 9 years, 4 months ago

completely unacceptable that the pilots would do this. there is no excuse that can garner the respect of either bahamians or visitors. we have seen the salaries that they are paid and in this economy, with all that we are facing as a nation and with what is likely to come in light of VAT, Cuba opening, worsening crime, they should be bloody thankful for their salaries and compensation. i say bahamasair should shut down, cut the losses to the bahamian people, and then see where these pilots end up working. i don't support them and moving forward will not fly bahamasair again. i am sick and tired of the union mentality in this country. it's time to abolish the union as many other countries have done.

moncurcool 9 years, 4 months ago

This is a bunch of nonsense. These pilots make WAY MORE than the average Bahamian. They have benefits on top of that, and this STUPID union leader have the audacity to say they stressed out and cannot fly. On top of that, with the government broke, these greedy union leaders making noise but only a half increment they getting. Only in the stupid government do these unions get away with this garbage. Here is a company that has never made a profit it all the time it has been in existence and yet, they want an increase. Utter nonsense. The government needs to stand up to this. I support EnoughisEnoungh. People need to stop flying Bahamasair. I stopped flying them a long time ago, and this attitude will just keep me off.

TalRussell 9 years, 4 months ago

What would it take for a Homeless man with nothing to teach pilots pocketing $100,000 ever 12 months?

VIDEO: Homeless man given $100, does the unexpected Josh Paler Lin gave a panhandler money and had a cameraman follow him around afterwards to find out how he spent it.

.......//https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUBTA...">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUBTA...

John 9 years, 4 months ago

Everyone faulting ZNS coverage of the Junkanoo Parade. Say ZNS the national station only broadcast the first half of the parade and even that was $hitty because they only had one camera and reporter on Bay Street. Bahamians on the family islands did not get to see the entire parade or full coverage of the parade route. What is wrong with our natiojal corporations? First Bahamasair kill Christmas for thousands of Bahamians and hundreds of tourist then ZNS broadcast broadcast junkanoo like they operating out of a cigar box budget. Bahamians getting short change round and round.

John 9 years, 4 months ago

O and BEC didnt put up any Christmas lights over the hioo

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