Union in the dark on BWIA plan

Speaking at last Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, Saith said he received the first draft of a new business plan to ensure the airline’s long-term viability and he would be studying the plan over the weekend.

However, ACAWU president Curtis John told Newsday that the union has not seen the details of any business plan for BWIA from September 28, 2005, when Prime Minister Patrick Manning first announced plans to restructure the airline in Parliament, to the present.

Noting that his and other unions are currently in negotiations with BWIA, John said he has no idea what plan Saith referred to.

He further indicated that Saith’s post-Cabinet comments appear to be at odds with statements from new BWIA CEO Peter Davies about efforts being made to restructure “old BWIA” in its current form.

Saith said the Government was committed to placing US$250 million in equity into what he said was the new BWIA and any plan to ensure the airline’s viability would succeed once all the stakeholders are committed to it.

Stating that this new development could put BWIA’s workers at a disadvantage, John said he plans to contact both Saith and the airline’s management to clarify the situation.

He added that his union and BWIA have made proposals and counter proposals over the last week and a new date to continue discussions is yet to be announced.