Senior Producer
bavita.gopaulchan@guardian.co.tt
Shortly after the Industrial Court’s ex-parte injunction stopped Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) pilots from engaging in alleged industrial action, the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots’ Association (TTALPA) issued a call to its members to report for duty once medically fit.
The injunction was sought by CAL after 75 out of 217 pilots called in sick on Sunday, throwing the state-owned airline into a tailspin as it adjusted flight schedules. Eventually, over 60 flights had to be cancelled.
As part of the injunction, TTALPA was ordered to instruct its members to report for duty as rostered.
In a communiqué sent to its members yesterday morning, which was obtained by Guardian Media, TTALPA informed its members of the injunction.
“As you may be aware, at 7.27 pm on Sunday, August 20, 2023, we were officially informed that CAL had filed an ex-parte injunction against TTALPA, and its members and an emergency hearing took place at 7.30 pm for allegedly taking industrial action. One of our attorneys was able to join during the course of the emergency hearing of these proceedings and indicated to the honourable Court that time was needed to get instructions and to respond to CAL’s claims,” the communiqué stated.
It then instructed members who are medically fit, “to adhere to their rostered flights”, and “comply with company policies related to medication and obtain a fit to fly after illness”.
There is still no confirmation as to whether Sunday’s high absenteeism was, in fact, a sick out by CAL pilots. However, in the last line of its communiqué, TTALPA told members that it “does not encourage or support any industrial action by any of its members employed in essential service”.
In its release on Sunday, CAL noted that it is currently in negotiations with the association over a collective agreement for the period 2015-2018. Guardian Media understands both parties met last week for talks.
In a letter sent to Guardian Media yesterday, a group of pilots expressed their concerns over some of the company’s offers and stated that pilots’ morale was at “an all-time low”.
Among the items in the latest offer the pilots say they do not support, are what would amount to a pay cut, the removal of financial benefits from the current collective agreement, which they said are currently being contested at the Industrial Court, and a policy discouraging pilots from upgrading to a higher rank or moving to a different aircraft.
“During the pandemic, Prime Minister Keith Rowley publicly stated, rightfully, that you cannot go on Charlotte Street and pick up a pilot. Shortly thereafter, CAL VP HR advised the pilot union that 161 pilots would be laid OFF. TTALPA countered by taking a 57 per cent pay cut for ALL pilots, with the understanding that no pilots would lose their jobs. CAL agreed. Despite the 57 per cent cut and huge savings to the company, VP HR Roger Berkeley retrenched 79 pilots without regard for the principle of the ‘Last In, First Out’ policy as outlined in the collective agreement,” the group of pilots’ statement claimed.
“At the same time, TTALPA offered the opposing opinion gained from the International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Association, which pointed to a faster return of seat demand. Caribbean Airlines began recalling retrenched pilots within nine months of retrenchment, and that exercise is still in progress.”
The pilots’ letter also raised an apparent shortage of crew members, which they say has been causing “an atmosphere where pilots are expected to work on their off days and vacations.” This, they lamented, has been causing fatigue among many pilots.
According to a memorandum dated May 3rd, 2023, CAL informed staff that it had consulted with TTALPA and made a proposal regarding the management and remuneration of any given up off days during the Summer 2023 peak period.
The airline told staff, “A pilot who volunteers for duty on his/her OFF day may choose to have that OFF day returned in the next non-peak period OR be paid five (5) hours above his minimum guarantee at the overtime rate of 1.5 times the regular Hourly Rate.”
Staff were asked to confirm their willingness in writing to the Flights Operations Department by May 22, 2023.
However, the group of pilots indicated that several pilots had been given little to no option but to give up their days, leading them to feel “fatigued” regularly.
The pilots are concerned about what happens now, since the company is looking to expand by acquiring more aircraft. They said they are unable to support the company’s plans for expansion taking off while their salaries and benefits remain grounded.
Guardian Media contacted Berkeley for comment on the pilots’ claims but he directed our call to CAL’s communications department.
Several questions were then sent to CAL’s head of Corporate Communications, Dionne Ligoure. She acknowledged the questions, but said the company needed time to respond.