BWIA keeps aircraft, workers get two weeks pay

BWIA has come to an agreement with aircraft leasor ILFC to extend credit until the airline gets a response from Government on its newest survival proposal, Communications Director Clint Williams said yesterday.

The cash strapped airline has appealed to Government for help in the face of rising cancellations in the past few weeks. Government has said, though, that it will only help if the airline presents a viable survival plan. Williams also said about 30 ex-Bwia employees have accepted the payment of half a month’s salary but unions are advising members to refuse the payment. President of the Aviation Communication and Allied Workers Union (ACAWU), Christopher Abraham, has maintained his stance stating: “The union never agreed to it. We agreed that it should be paid as a penalty for not meeting the deadline.”

Ex-employees have been paid sums ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 and Communications Director Clint Williams said another half month’s payment will be made on April 22. BWIA announced last week that it could not pay severance owed to the workers retrenched in January. Abraham said so far, he has not been able to contact BWIA Chairman, Lawrence Duprey, since “they claim he’s out of the country”.  Letters were written to Duprey’s assistants requesting that a clear statement be made of ACAWU’s position.

A meeting has been planned for today at 4:15pm. When asked about what the union plans to do next, Abraham stated that this will be discussed at the meeting. Of the severed workers, 29 with amounts of under $25,000 owed have been paid. Another 39 in that category have received Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) approval and their payment is being processed. The remaining 127 ex-employees owed $25,000 or less have not received BIR approval.