Former pilot, Captain Neil Cave, looks despondent as he listens to his colleagues talk about their current plight. It has been over a year since 94 workers have been laid off without any form of compensation from LIAT airlines.
Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley (right) during a press conference at his conference room at Worthing Corporate Centre yesterday.
‘Utter desperation’ for ex-LIAT workers
IT has been utter desperation for unemployed local workers of a troubled cash-strapped regional airline.
Tearful, desperate and frustrated Barbadian ex-LIAT workers are calling on the local government to assist in the matter of unpaid monies owed to them by their former employer.
Some of the former employees joined the Opposition Leader, Bishop Joseph Atherley, at his conference room at the Worthing Corporate Centre yesterday.
Captain Neil Cave, Pilot Ronald Field and Senior Cabin Crew instructor, Kelly-ann Franklin, expressed their plight as they all have been left in limbo – facing persistent creditors as they try desperately to survive and keep their mortgages or rented properties.
Cave, who spoke first, gave an overview of the past events. He indicated that it has been 393 days or over a year since 94 workers from Barbados have been laid off from LIAT.
‘Not a cent’ in compensation
He revealed that he and his colleagues are aware of the ongoing pandemic and natural disaster (ashfall of La Soufrière). But he stressed that they have received “not a cent” of what is due in severance, notice pay and vacation pay.
He reminded the media that the workers were laid off temporarily for three months (April to June) due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020. Cave stated that in their contract, this action would have triggered vacation pay. He said that since then they have been engaging with the local labour union and various governments over the months of 2020. After receiving a small payment of $2,400 in August, 2020, Cave indicated that while this was appreciated, it “didn’t go very far”. For many of the workers, the stress of the situation has led to deep depression and one attempted suicide. Cave also disclosed some of the legal, labour rights, employee and regional challenges they have faced due to their work status with the regional airline.
Both Field and Franklin spoke about their dire financial situation and while both are coping, others have had to give up their apartments or leave the country. In recent times, the ex-LIAT workers wrote a letter of desperation to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley to meet with the former LIAT workers. They are currently awaiting a reply from her office.
“It is a bad situation. As Bajans would say, ‘It dread,’” said Cave.