By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
AIRPORT operations on several Family Islands were severely affected today after more than a dozen airport employees refused to show up to work in protest of unresolved workplace grievances.
In an interview with The Tribune, Director of Aviation Algernon Cargill said airports on Abaco, Bimini, Cat Island and South Andros were closed as a result of Monday’s industrial action, which he called “illegal” and “disappointing.”
However, The Tribune was told that the Leanord M Thompson International Airport in Abaco has now resumed operations after employees from New Providence were sent to the island Monday morning.
“The Airport Authority is fully aware that the Bahamas Public Service Union has coordinated an illegal withdrawal of labour and I say illegal because as far as I’m aware, there’s been no trade dispute filed and secondly, the Airport Authority has always acted in good faith with the Bahamas Public Service Union,” Mr Cargill told The Tribune.
Mr Cargill estimated that less than 20 staff members withdrew their labour on Monday.
The Tribune also understands that BPSU workers at Princess Margaret Hospital also called in sick on Monday.
The action comes after BPSU President Kimsley Ferguson, who represents some workers at the hospital as well as airport staff, warned last week that there could be major disruption in hospital and airport services if workers’ longstanding concerns are not immediately resolved.
The union is calling for hazard pay, salary increases and uniform allowances among other things.
See Tuesday’s Tribune for more on this story.
Comments
Proguing 2 years, 7 months ago
Good idea to shut down the country when we are on the verge of bankruptcy Is there anything else we can do to scare the tourists and investors way?
Dawes 2 years, 7 months ago
If it was illegal, allow any who were inconvenienced by it to sue the Union and win damages.
Topdude 2 years, 7 months ago
This is a unfortunate and naive attempt to embarrass the FNM Government. It clearly shows the depths to which the PLP leaders are prepared to sink in order to find excuses to thwart and explain away their forthcoming defeat at the polls.
I hope Kingsley can find alternative positions within the union for these individuals after these pawns are summarily dismissed ?
immigrant 2 years, 7 months ago
When ya dumb, ya dangerous.
themessenger 2 years, 7 months ago
There must be a special academy for union leaders, specializing in teaching graft, greed, corruption, extortion and malicious manipulation of members even more stupid than they are.
xtreme2x 2 years, 7 months ago
THIS IS A DISGRACE. LESS THAN 20 PERSONS DID NOT SHOW UP TO WORK...WE HAD TO CLOSED AIRPORT. DO Director of Aviation HAVE BOARD MEETINGS? WHY NO PLAN/ STRATEGIES TO EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH STRIKES/SITOUT. SHOULD NEVER SHOW THAT 20 PERSONS CAN NEGATIVELY EFFECT A BIG COMPANY. EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT SUPERVISORS, MIDDLE MANAGEMENT AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT GET OF UR BUT AND FILL POST TO KEEP BUSINESS RUNNING.
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