LIAT pilots threaten industrial action as Easter weekend approaches

liatlogoTravellers were placed on alert for possible industrial action by pilots of the regional airline LIAT, with the financially strapped company warning that its employees were using a “cynical tactic to exploit the fears of the travelling public” particularly over the Easter weekend.

The Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) has been calling on the airline to reinstate two pilots who were dismissed following an incident last October in which one of the company’s new aircraft was damaged.

Earlier this week, LIALPA met with LIAT representatives, Antigua and Barbuda Labour Minister Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin as well as Labour Commissioner Eltonia Rojas and a statement issued afterwards revealed that the government officials were of the view that the two pilots should be reinstated and that LIAT would be reviewing the case.

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17 Comments

  1. TRUTHMAN
    March 24, 2015

    is a good thing is st.lucia alone i does go to> the ferry all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. JoJo
    March 24, 2015

    So much talk of caribbean union with Caricom and OECS and their own airline making that almost impossible so inefficient and expensive and still no real night flight at Melville Hall. Mr. Skerrit made a big noise of Martinique becoming an associate member of OECS but you can not even fly there direct from Dominica next doors or visit there without restriction. Please, free up that airline and lower the cost so that at least Caribbean people can visit each other more easily.

  3. Me
    March 24, 2015

    Protection of that airline by local governments have put its pilots in a position where they can hold it to ransom, time and time again.

  4. March 24, 2015

    Do people still use that airline ??????

    • Titiwi
      March 24, 2015

      Yes, not bu choice but under duress and out of necessity. A yoke imposed upon the Caribbean people by its shareholder governments. It is a disgrace.

  5. Dan Tanner
    March 23, 2015

    How can anyone tell when LIAT reduces service?

  6. Titiwi
    March 23, 2015

    Let me tell you, these people are crazy and no apologies for that. To fly from Melville Hall to Guadeloupe Point- a Pitre, a distance of only 52 miles by air, a flight of max. 25 minutes, they want me to pay U.S.$.443.25 return. On top of that I have to pay my departure tax and be at the airport two hours before departure. And it is not every day you can make that flight you know. Still they can not make money and giving us a bad service. Is best they scrap that airline and leave it to private enterprise. Me, I’m taking my pipiwi from Capucin to Basse Terre or move to Guadeloupe altogether, at least their unemployment benefit and health service is better.

  7. Jam Rock
    March 23, 2015

    They need to get rid of the union. Within so many industrires, unions seem to play an adverse role and it’s we the consumers who have to suffer…What kind of bad-man approach are these pilots taking..they have absolutey no respect for their customers. When is the next airline coming?…

    • Ma Moses
      March 24, 2015

      I was wondering why they need a union for so few pilots? Does this union have full-time officials? Maybe that’s why they have to make such noise , to justify their existence. That sounds a bit daft to me.

  8. fantastic4
    March 23, 2015

    TRIVIA !
    What does LIAT and the West Indies Team have in common? GIVE UP?

    They both underperform and still demand a raise in salary/ pay. So is not Dominica only that nice- the whole Caribbean nice boy!!

  9. derp
    March 23, 2015

    wth I have someone coming down easter friday wth liat do mess around

  10. grell
    March 23, 2015

    My dream is to see this incompetetent airline go out of business and some American company take over,Just being based in ANTIGUA and the workers have put a curse on this airline,thank god i banned them.Winair way to go.

  11. It's my damn busines
    March 23, 2015

    I do hope Skerrit flies his arm forces to wherever they pilots plan on protesting / striking, since he invest $11 million on LIAT. I know in Dominica from the time hears the word strike or peaceful protest he ready to send the SIU branch. I hope the strike will remind him that in a democracy people are free to strike, protest or demonstrate, without being frightened or threatened by arm forces, as long as it remains peaceful. Mr. Letang should use this as a motivation to call a strike too.

  12. Titiwi
    March 23, 2015

    RIP Liat. In the end those pilots will have no jobs and any other air line will be reluctant to employ them because of their reputation. A long career with Liat on your c.v. is not exactly a recommendation, is it guys?

  13. CC
    March 23, 2015

    It is unfortunate that we have basically put all our eggs into LIATS basket for air travel into DA. If LIAT were to go under what is DA going to do?

    • Zandoli
      March 23, 2015

      Talk to the prime ministers of the various island and tell them to reduce or eliminate all those burdensome taxes they have levied on airfares between the islands. That would spur travel allowing LIAT to increase its revenue.

      These governments have no foresight.

  14. rogerthat
    March 23, 2015

    Unbelievable, LIAT is so unreliable, late all the time, cancelled flights, now this! Do the pilots all want to loose their jobs. It is amazing the airline is still in business! This is a very sad state of affairs indeed. Let us all hope it does not happen! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

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