Airline Union:

THE Aviation Communication and Allied Workers Union (ACAWU) yesterday called for the immediate dismissal of BWIA chairman Arthur Lok Jack and airline CEO Peter Davies and warned of a total shutdown of BWIA’s operations if Government does not intervene in this matter.

Yesterday, dozens of BWIA workers gathered outside of the airline’s Sunjet House offices in Port-of-Spain and its offices at Piarco to protest the company’s decision on Thursday to cancel all meetings with the workers’ representatives because it was allegedly doing so under duress. Addressing a news conference at the Aero Services Credit Union building in Tacarigua yesterday, ACAWU president Curtis John said Lok Jack and Davies were misleading the population and the Government about what was really taking place at BWIA. John claimed that while Davies has spoken about the airline losing US$1 million per week, huge sums of monies provide foreign consultants for the airline with certain luxuries while BWIA workers are forced to “live on crumbs.”

He said discussions with Lok Jack and Davies have suggested to the union that there is a plan to transform BWIA into a company which could be restructured “absolutely” and have no trade unions. John charged that Lok Jack and Davies were condoning a lot of improper practices at BWIA, placing the airline in further jeopardy and both men should be dismissed forthwith.

The ACAWU president added that the workers were prepared for a long, hard struggle and his union would support them in whatever action they decided to take.

Asked whether a total shutdown of BWIA’s operations was on the cards, John said this would only be used as “a last resort.” He admitted that BWIA’s pilots were not members of ACAWU, whose membership includes flight attendants, engineers and other ground staff and could act independently if they wished. Asked whether BWIA’s planes would be able to operate if ACAWU’s members opted for a total shutdown, John declined comment.

John also said Davies told him that the union would not be receiving the copy of a draft business plan for BWIA and ACAWU would not agree to any settlement until it sees the plan which is already in the Government’s possession. In April, Public Administration and Information Minister Dr Lenny Saith said he had received a copy of this draft plan but Government would not move forward with it until all BWIA’s stakeholders agree upon it.

John said he had no information of any local managers at BWIA being replaced by foreigners and this was not something which the union advocated.

He called for Lok Jack and Davies to be replaced by more competent people and for Government to insist that the company negotiate with BWIA’s workers in good faith. John said the unions wanted to be a part of the way forward for BWIA and would not have any issue with retrenchment once everything is above board.