The government of Antigua and Barbuda has renewed calls for former LIAT 1974 Ltd. employees to accept the offered compensation package, arguing that the 32% payout reflects the country’s financial commitment to the defunct airline.
Speaking at Thursday’s Cabinet press briefing, Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst said the administration remains firm on its position, despite continued resistance from some workers and union representatives.
“The former workers of LIAT 1974 Ltd. are better served by taking the offer and moving on, which many have done, rather than lingering in the hope that at some point in the future they’ll get 100%,” Hurst said.
The government had initially proposed a 50% settlement but later adjusted the figure to 32%, aligning it with Antigua and Barbuda’s ownership stake in the regional airline.
Hurst maintained that the government’s offer was a goodwill gesture, given that LIAT 1974 Ltd. is insolvent and unable to meet its financial obligations.
Hurst criticized the union’s approach, claiming it was misleading workers into believing a full payout was possible.
“It’s just wrong-headed advice that the union is giving,” he said. “They know they don’t have a legal leg to stand on, but it is the policy of the political party which they support.
As a consequence, they are adopting that hostile attitude and leading workers down the wrong road.”
While some former employees have accepted the settlement and moved on, others continue to hold out, hoping for a higher payout.
However, Hurst insisted that the government’s position would not change and urged workers to take advantage of the funds being offered.
The collapse of LIAT 1974 Ltd. left hundreds of employees across the region without severance payments.
The Antigua and Barbuda government has been the only shareholder to make a direct financial commitment to affected workers, despite ongoing calls for greater regional support
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The last line of this story is incorrect. The Government of Barbados made and delivered on direct finacial committments to their workers. https://barbadostoday.bb/2024/05/07/three-year-liat-severance-ordeal-nears-end/
I acknowledge the effort of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to have the redundancy matter settled with the former LIAT 1974 Ltd workers. It is hard for me though to accept that the 32% compassionate payment being offered by the government is satisfactory and acceptable and inline with the terms and conditions of employment that was stipulated in the former workers job description and contract. As far as I am concerned, LIAT is still operational and functional, albeit under a new name. I am saddened that the government was not able to properly negotiate a full settlement with all of the former share holder governments as this is really the only proper and decent thing to do. I do not see why the former LIAT workers should be left with the short end of the stick in this situation. Proper collective bargaining requires a better and more equitable position for the workers. The take it or leave it approach is harsh and unsatisfactory and inhumane and an affront to workers right and proper and effective industrial relationship.
The government offering 32% over 10 years. The PM want people to live in poverty so he can give them hand outs. Give the 32% as a lumpsum and he will see the difference. We will wait until the PM start caring or he is removed. WE WILL WAIT. And it is not Gaston alone that can run this country. Others on his team can do it to. My children and your children can do it. Stop leaving our future in the disabled and dysfunctional hands.