Senior Reporter
dareece.polo@guardian.co.tt
The T&T Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA) launched an online survey on Friday to get the views of its members on the management of Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL).
As negotiations between the union and airline remained unresolved, TTALPA members were asked give their views on the performance of CAL CEO Garvin Medera and vice president of Human Resources Roger Berkley.
In a message accompanying the survey, TTALPA said it has strived to work closely with CAL’s management over the years but it claimed that in 2020 the management took a sharp turn. TTALPA accused Medera and Berkley of enforcing unorthodox methods of management.
Issues raised in the survey included the pay cut CAL pilots received for nine months during the COVID-19 pandemic which the union claimed was extended by 38 days “out of pure mischief”.
TTALPA also said there had been retrenchments outside of seniority in breach of the collective agreement, termination of more than 60 pilots, bullying and intimidation, alleged declassification of pilots’ salaries to the public, unsanctioned negotiation practices and countless “attacks” against the union.
TTALPA has asked members to indicate whether they are happy with the two men’s performance, if they supported calls for their resignation, and whether they would sign a petition calling for them to step down.
A source at the union said the poll was a direct response to a CAL employee survey which the association does not believe was legitimate.
Medera did not respond to calls or WhatsApp messages yesterday and Berkley said questions regarding CAL and its employees should be forwarded to Corporate Communications manager Dionne Ligoure.
Responding via WhatsApp, Ligoure said the airline had no issues with TTALPA’s poll and pointed out that the airline’s internal survey had a high participation rate and a leadership score that was improving.
“Caribbean Airlines Limited conducts independent employee opinion surveys which look at various key areas of the company including leadership. The last employee opinion survey saw staff participating at a rate of 74 per cent,” she said.
“Further, from 2017 to the last survey, the leadership scores have consistently improved and is now 59, with many persons expressing their satisfaction with the work of the leadership team. Caribbean Airlines continues to work assiduously to deliver the distinguished levels of service that our valued customers have come expect and this remains our main focus,” Ligoure added.
On August 21, CAL obtained an ex-parte injunction against TTALPA members to stop them from continuing alleged protest action. This occurred after 93 pilots called in sick between August 18 and 20, causing the cancellation of 60 flights and leading to an estimated $15 million loss for the airline.
TTALPA, however, denied engaging in industrial action and acknowledged that it was barred from doing such as an essential service.
The matter comes up for hearing in the Industrial Court on September 28.