BWIA workers not scapegoats

The union also wondered whether the hiring of British consultancy firm Catalise UK Ltd could result in some of BWIA’s local managers being replaced by foreigners in the restructuring process.

Contacted yesterday, ACAWU president Curtis John wondered whether the recent hiring of the London-based Catalise would lead to foreigners assuming most of the management positions at the airline. Stating this had been the norm under previous BWIA boards, John told Newsday that only time will tell whether Catalise can help to improve BWIA’s fortunes.

He said he had no problem with foreign nationals assuming management posts at BWIA if their were no qualified locals to do the job but the process had to be transparent.

John said the union had no idea what was contained in the report which BWIA CEO Peter Davies submitted to the airline’s board of directors last Friday but remained committed to meeting with BWIA’s management.

BWIA officials yesterday said Davies submitted his report to the board as scheduled but they were unable to give any details of the plan’s contents. Davies’ report was supposed to update the board on the current status of negotiations and offer recommendations regarding BWIA’s viability.

In an earlier release yesterday, ACAWU criticised statements made by BWIA that the airline was losing revenue because of industrial action taken by the workers. ACAWU denied this.

In response to claims that the airline’s business plan was in jeopardy, the union said that was the result of the company’s management structure and its inability to properly manage BWIA’s business “without proposing to implement cut-backs on benefits and payment of poor salaries to its employees.”