By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
MEMBERS of the Airport Airline Allied Workers Union (AAAWU) raised alarms yesterday about an imminent layoff exercise that will leave 47 employees of Envoy Air without a job.
Nelerene Harding, the union president, accused Envoy - formerly American Eagle and a subsidiary of American Airlines - of destroying people's livelihood.
A letter from Envoy that was sent to employees and obtained by The Tribune read: "As you are aware, Envoy must continue to adapt as our business and operational needs change and unfortunately, this often creates a need for downsizing or the elimination of specific positions at the station.
"The company was recently notified that the above-the-wing work performed by Envoy on behalf of American Airlines in Nassau will be handled by US Airways. As a result, I regret to inform you that you are being laid off (redundancy) from your current job. The anticipated layoff date will be on or about April 15.
"The exact day will be communicated to you at a later time. By reason of redundancy, this letter serves as your statutory two weeks notice to this effect. You are required to work during your period of notice and you will be paid in relation to this period in the usual manner. Additionally, severance will be paid in accordance with the Bahamian Employment Act."
The Tribune's attempts to reach Envoy Air for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.
Mrs Harding said the revelation has shocked workers, adding that "grown men" have been crying over the matter. "This has actually devastated the lives of these employees," she said.
She added that she is concerned that the company has contravened the Employment Act and expressed frustration with the "poor" efforts labour officials have made to address the concerns of employees.
"I am asking for the Minister and Director of Labour to enforce that American (Eagle) adhere to the policy and be honest in their dealings with them as the government first and then with these employees," she said. "Every day I receive 30 to 40 calls, 'what is going on, how are our lives going to go going forward?'
Mrs Harding said Envoy has given notice that the laid-off workers can re-apply for a job with the company after they are let go. Twenty one jobs will be made available, she said, adding that the re-hired employees will make less money than they had grown accustomed to.
While workers typically made between $11 and $12 an hour, she said their rate would decrease to a little over $8 an hour.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 1 month ago
Looking more and more like the unemployed will constitute a majority of the voters in the next general election. Meanwhile the Christie led PLP government is becoming increasingly hamstrung by its failure to deliver all the private sector jobs Christie promised during the last general election. Christie will of course continue to blame the great global recession of 2008-2009 even though unemployment in the U.S. (where more than 80% of our tourists come from) has fallen from about 10% to 5% over the last 7 or 8 years. Meanwhile the Bahamas unemployment rate during this same period of time has continued to soar thanks to the failed economic policies and corruption associated with the Christie led PLP government.
Cobalt 9 years ago
Well said.
killemwitdakno 9 years, 1 month ago
If those employees held good jobs for a long time, the company is entitled to let people go to for the best interest of the whole. You don't want to create anti employer sentiment with remaining employees. It's not AE's fault that government apparently doesn't have sufficient employment services for locals. Also, fully self employed persons should not be collecting unemployment.
killemwitdakno 9 years, 1 month ago
How many layoffs in the last 2 years? Media needs to pay attention to trend and highlight certain causes.
http://www.employbahamians.com">http://www.employbahamians.com
killemwitdakno 9 years, 1 month ago
I commend them for advanced notice of downsizing.
TruthHurts 9 years, 1 month ago
Don't they always?? Even if they gave 'two' months notice folks would still be blind sided by the news especially if they've come to depend on it as a main source of income.
TheMadHatter 9 years, 1 month ago
Agree, how many times do employees arrive to work and find a layoff notice and the place locked up. They did better than that.
It is very sad for those employees, still.
themessenger 9 years, 1 month ago
More union the world owes me a living attitude. Envoy has given the required notice period and has announced their intention to pay the severance pay required by the law, what else does the union expect the minister or director of labour to "Enforce" on the company?? These dumb and lazy union officials really believe that private employers have no rights to run their business as they see fit, including downsizing, and that they should be forced to operate at a loss to save union jobs.
B_I_D___ 9 years, 1 month ago
Exactly...they are playing by the book that the Union so often likes to throw at people, giving notice and advising they will be paid their due severance. There really is no recourse after that. It is what it is.
Reality_Check 9 years, 1 month ago
The departure taxes and airport fees included in a passenger's airline ticket price for the departure leg of their flight from Nassau are now some of the highest in the world thanks to the exorbitant cost overruns our government has incurred in the rebuilding and upgrading of Nassau International Airport (NAI). The same is also now true for the taxes and fees the airlines themselves incur and must pay on each of their flights departing from NIA. Taken together, these taxes and fees, hidden away in airline ticket prices for the departure leg from Nassau, typically total more than twice the actual airfare earned by the airline for that leg of the travel. Bahamians, more than anyone, know just how much more costly it has become to travel to the U.S. since the rebuilding and upgrade of NIA began. Yes, we have a magnificent airport servicing our nation's capital for all to see, but the excessive cost overruns incurred by our government in building it have imposed a very high travel cost structure on both Bahamians, the airlines and tourists for many years to come. This has left our tourism industry at a serious competitive disadvantage compared to other tourist destinations in our region and elsewhere, and certainly does not portend well for the Bahamas as Cuba becomes increasingly opened to American tourists. Airlift to and from the Bahamas is now greatly impacted by much higher landing and departure taxes and fees charged to the airlines which in turn results in higher airfares for those tourists who still choose to visit our shores. But these added costs for the airlines and our tourists alike are taking a most serious toll on the operating margins of our major hotel operators like Atlantis and "soon" to be Baha Mar, mainly due to their excessive energy costs. These largest hotel operators therefore have every reason to fear they might not be able to remain in business without their guests once again receiving significant travel subsidies from our government at the perilous expense of the already over-taxed Bahamian. All of this means more job losses are sure to come whether it be from the airlines, the hotels or from our over-taxed and "BEC over-billed" private business sector. At the end of the day, someone always has to pay the piper. Unfortunately, that someone will be the Bahamian people (you and me) thanks in large part to years of corrupt Bahamian governments, with special mention reserved and deserved by the incompetent Christie-led PLP governments.
TruthHurts 9 years, 1 month ago
"...thanks to the exorbitant cost overruns our government has incurred in the rebuilding and upgrading of Nassau International Airport (NAI)."
You're correct! Just as the last airport built, I see this newly constructed one and it's upcoming pitfalls. We seem blinded to the fact that most of the buildings designed in this country are firstly, unkept and not efficient or equipped for future expansion. Every time some new money (investor) comes in.. or there is a dramatic shift in the economy it appears these structures can never go the distance. Always starting from scratch! Why? Can't we get things right the first time, and 'add on' when necessary?
This ga' be long!
Tommy77 9 years, 1 month ago
Well said.
http://s04.flagcounter.com/mini/kfoW/..." style="display:none" />
The_Oracle 9 years, 1 month ago
AA and US Air merge, and they honestly think there will be no effects felt here? -"I am asking for the Minister and Director of Labour to enforce that American (Eagle) adhere to the policy and be honest in their dealings with them as the government first and then with these employees," she said. "Every day I receive 30 to 40 calls, 'what is going on, how are our lives going to go going forward?'- uh, looks like they already are?
TruthHurts 9 years, 1 month ago
lol.. Don't do it!
BoopaDoop 9 years ago
LOL Unions hamper progress and cause further damage to the working parts of our economy. My favourite is when the unions tell the government to block job redundancy. WTF How can the government tell a going concern to continue operating at an unprofitable level....oh wait...that's what the government does and they are the "leaders by example".
USAhelp 9 years ago
We gonna work for BEC yea union. Going to put everyone out of work. Come on Chinese save us. LOL.
EasternGate 9 years ago
With the exception of Bahamas Air, Airlines offer no job security. If those employees are surprised, they must be naïve!
duppyVAT 9 years ago
Bahamians will soon be working in the post-union era at Bahamar ........ You can bet that unions will NOT be welcomed at those hotels for long. Sandy, Perry and Obie have already received their orders from Izzy & the Chinese ............. Unions will die a slow death but thier days are numbered. The union leaders are too selfish, greedy and in-bed with the politicians and the members see that there are really very little benefits for the increasing union dues + VAT, NHI etc
moncurcool 9 years ago
We have the most dumbest, uneducated set of union leaders in this country. If this so called leader of the airline union would just read works need she would be aware that envoy airlines is downsizing all across the United states. Reason being they are short on pilots and American Airlines is taking planes from them and giving to other subsidiaries. In fact, envoy will soon stop flying to the Bahamas. Why these union leaders try and make something out of nothing is beyond me.
DMoe 9 years ago
When American (Envoy) and US Air merged, both had to bid on who gets to keep the ground handling jobs. US Air won the bid so Envoy had no choice but to let their crew go. If Envoy had won the bid, it would be US Air's crew in this position right now, Granted, bringing them back at $2.00 an hour less is a PRICK move.
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