{"id":143838,"date":"2021-12-21T18:13:23","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T22:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=143838"},"modified":"2021-12-21T21:29:40","modified_gmt":"2021-12-22T01:29:40","slug":"union-says-it-knowns-nothing-about-compassionate-payment-to-liat-ex-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/union-says-it-knowns-nothing-about-compassionate-payment-to-liat-ex-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Union says it knows nothing about compassionate payment to LIAT ex-workers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>

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Media Statement<\/p>\n

The Antigua & Barbuda Workers’ Union, on behalf of the LIAT employees we represent
\nand on behalf of all LIAT employees residing in Antigua and Barbuda, condemns and takes
\nexception to the media statement put out by the Office of the Prime Minister dated 20th
\nDecember, 2021, stating that \u201cthe Government of Antigua and Barbuda has today 20th
\nDecember, 2021 dispatched $2,000,000 to the LIAT Court-Appointed Receiver for
\ndistribution to resident former LIAT workers\u201d.<\/p>

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It must be clearly understood that neither the eligible employees nor their respective
\nunion representatives were apprised of this pay-out prior to that media statement.<\/p>

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Further, the Statement’s reference to the Court-Appointed Receiver is either a deception
\nor a clear deliberate misnomer by the Government, since LIAT (1974) Ltd. is not currently
\nin Receivership but rather in Administration.<\/p>\n

Additionally, this notion that the severance\/terminal benefits pay-out which is put out as
\na Compassionate Payment is grossly exaggerated and can be readily perceived that the
\nGovernment is seeking to bribe employees into accepting whatever has been placed on
\nthe table by the Government with respect to the employees’ entitlements.<\/p>

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In keeping with the Government’s modus operandi not to consult and engage in
\nmeaningful dialogue with the employees and their representatives, this latest unilateral
\npronouncement with no indication whatsoever of the mechanism that will be utilised to
\nbring “some Christmas cheer to those who have been severed\u201d is a classic example of
\ndictatorial and marginalisational tendencies of the Government.<\/p>\n

This lack of consultation and direct engagement with employees and their representatives
\nis wreaking havoc on the situation and raises questions about the sincerity and
\ngenuineness of the various pronouncements coming from the Government to settle this
\nmatter in regards to the LIAT issue, particularly as it relates to entitlements which are
\nlegally due to the employees.<\/p>

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The Antigua & Barbuda Workers Union is reiterating its numerous calls for the
\nGovernment to fully consult and engage the employees and their representative Unions
\nto find workable and acceptable solutions to the issues at hand and to desist from playing
\na political game of chess with the livelihoods of the current hardworking employees and
\nformer employees of LIAT (1974) Ltd.<\/p>

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