BWIA unions want penalty payment

BWIA unions want the airline to be charged a penalty for the late payment of severance to 617 ex-employees.

President of the Aviation Communi-cation and Allied Workers Union (ACA-WU), Christopher Abra-ham also said the unions have not been able to set a date to meet with BWIA chairman Law-rence Duprey. On Wednesday union leaders promised to meet with Duprey after they failed to get assistance from Government. The airline announced Wednesday that it would be releasing $1.5 million, or about half month’s pay as part of the severance money it is owing. The announcement followed a meeting with union representatives Tuesday.

Communications director Clint Williams said the airline, although cash strapped, is not broke. While it does not have the $60 million owed in severance payments, it is able to pay the $1.5 million. On Thursday though, severed employees said they did not want the payment to be part of their severance but rather a salary. Williams said the severance money will be a priority in any assistance the airline gets from Government. BWIA’s management is due to present a plan to Government detailing how it will survive the downturn in travel caused by the Gulf War. Williams could not say when the plan will be presented.

Meanwhile, the Trini-dad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) threw its support behind the severed workers. “The continued denial of these payments to the former employees will leave a serious scar on the process of labour relations in this country,” TTUTA  president Trevor Oliver said in a statement. Oliver said the refusal to pay amounts to a denial of property.