The pilots urge PM to intervene | Local business

The Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilot Association (Talpa) says that it is prepared to send the salary dispute with the Caribbean airlines to the industrial court if continuous conciliation efforts are not reduced within the stipulated period of 14 days.

During a press conference yesterday, the Timothy Bailey industrial relations consultant said the Board and the Management of Cal have not implemented the salary payments approved for the pilots.

“Unfortunately, although a collective agreement would have been signed on December 11, 2024 between the parties, the payment between the 2015 to 2023 period has not been fulfilled; Only a percentage of payment to the pilots to date has been given, ”he said.

Bailey said that for the later period, “despite the fact that the pilot agency, being its usual self, being proactive, would have given the company a proposal without change and accepted the 4% proposal as approved by the Minister of Finance, today’s company has not met with the union, to counterproduct and, as a result, that the union did not remain without reference to the issue of the honorable minister of labor for conciliation.” “” “

According to Bailey, his team attended a conciliation meeting on Monday.

However, he said that CAL could not present a position, offer a counterproposal or participate completely in the negotiations for the 2020 to 2023 period.

“The Board has the responsibility of dealing with expedition and urgently the matter in terms of issues that affect the pilots, because these pilots are considered essential workers, they are prohibited from taking industrial measures,” he said.

He said that there is a stipulated period of 14 days to complete the conciliation. However, after a meeting yesterday, Talpa decided that he would not continue beyond the period of 14 days.

“We are asking for an unresolved certificate for the matter to be sent to the Industrial Court,” he said, adding: “Although we are open at any time, even during the Carnival, to participate in a conversation with the company to resolve these negotiations.”

Talpa is also asking Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley to intervene in the current dispute between its members and the airline board.

Bailey said that last October, Finance Minister Colm Imbert approved a salary increase of 4% for the 2015 to 2020, “and then also approved a subsequent increase of 4% for the period 2020 to 2023”.

Bailey said that while Cal is involved in carnival activities, and the pilots adopt the company’s marketing strategies and the carnival culture, they demand that CAL urgently approach the collective agreement.

“While we know what you want to ‘forgive’, our pilots want their money. We are saying: Organize the salaries of the pilots, sign the collective agreement, focus on the central functions of the airline and allow us to collectively guarantee that Caribbean Airlines is a success. In this context, we are asking the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago (because the Minister of Finance has already done his job) to intervene in any necessary capacity and instructs the Board and the management of the Caribbean airlines to prioritize negotiations with the pilots. This will ensure that our pilots are not stressed, that they are 100% focused on a job that is extremely important and that we can move this airline forward in the way it deserves, ”he said.

Recently, the pilots erected a billboard that said: “Welcome home? The negotiations of 4% 2020 to 2023 arrived with the Talpa pilots. “This message occurred when the frustrated pilots continued to cry out for the 4% salary agreement promised by the Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert, last year.