ABWU Responds to PM’s Latest Comments on LIAT Severance Matter
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has once again put on full display his contempt and disregard for workers in Antigua and Barbuda, and in particular, the former and current employees of LIAT (1974) Ltd.
During his regular radio broadcast this past weekend, the Prime Minister unleashed a most despicable display of arrogance and condescending rhetoric in his continued attempt to bully and ultimately silence the cries of the workers of LIAT.
As General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union, I, David Massiah, wish to make it abundantly clear to the Prime Minister that this Union will not rest until the workers of LIAT receive just compensation for the termination of their services.
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union also makes this solemn promise to the workers of Liat, that with their unwavering support, we will pursue this matter with the full weight of our resources to secure a fair and reasonable settlement.
Much of the Prime Minister’s comments this weekend were intended to create confusion and anxiety in the minds of the former LIAT workers.
While the Prime Minister misses no opportunity to gloat that his government has skillfully escaped legal liability for severance, we wish to remind him that there is no escaping the fact that this Government — as a shareholder of LIAT (1974) Ltd— has a moral, if not total legal obligation to reach a reasonable settlement with the LIAT workers.
Most recently, the Government of Barbados has demonstrated its acceptance of this moral obligation by satisfying the former LIAT workers in that country with an ex gratia payment equivalent to the sum due to them as a consequence of the termination of their employment.
But the Gaston Browne Administration, on the other hand, believes that the workers in Antigua and Barbuda are undeserving of a fair settlement, to the extent that the Prime Minister is now proudly announcing that his Government’s so-called “compassionate offer” has now been reduced from 50% of severance to 32%, with threats of a complete withdrawal should the workers continue to lobby for a more reasonable settlement.
We condemn this disgraceful and cavalier handling of the entitlements of these workers! The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union reiterates its call for 100% severance settlement, to be comprised of a majority cash component and the remainder possibly organized as bonds and shares in any future derivative of LIAT (1974).
The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union is also gravely concerned about the handling of the Administration of LIAT. This process has been shrouded in secrecy and seems to be operating on an indefinite timeline.
This is unacceptable! It has been almost three years since the airline entered into Administration and our organization has been deliberately kept in the dark despite our significant stake in the outcome of this process.
If the Prime Minister is genuinely interested in the well-being of the workers (as he claims to be), then why hasn’t this process been more transparent? Is there something that the Prime Minister wishes to conceal from the Union and the workers? Perhaps this is the reason why the Prime Minister has been so vehemently opposed to dialogue with the Union and the workers for over two years.
There are many lingering questions surrounding this Administration process that we wish to reiterate: 1) What is the current status of the Administration by Cleveland Seaforth? 2) Have any reports been forthcoming as required by the governing legislation? 3) Importantly, has the Administrator been informing the Court of his progress and seeking the necessary time/date extensions for his continuing functioning? 4) Considering the fact that the Barbados Government has decided to pay its LIAT employees their severance entitlement, what exactly are this government’s proposals, and how soon will these be effected?
In an attempt to shift the spotlight from these glaring questions, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has resorted to accusing the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union of playing politics with the LIAT severance matter.
However, it is the Prime Minister who has repeatedly sought to drag this matter into the sphere of politics. The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union has always existed to defend the rights of workers, while the Prime Minister on the other hand, is primarily a political actor.
This Union has a long track record of securing justice for workers. Most notably, the case of the Half Moon Bay employees should serve as a reminder of the ABWU’s relentless zeal which ultimately secured severance for those workers after almost seven years. What kept this Union focused during that fight was our sacred belief that workers’ rights are human rights and that severance is a right that must be respected and administered fairly!
As we have advised the Prime Minister on countless occasions, the only way to resolve the LIAT severance, and other related matters, is through genuine dialogue with the legally recognized Bargaining Agent for the employees — The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union.
The Prime Minister’s unilateral approach to this matter WILL NOT WORK and is certainly not the right posture for resolving the broader question of regional travel. Hon. Prime Minister, this high-handed and inconsiderate behavior is unacceptable!
Again, we call for dialogue and reasonableness, so that we can bring closure to the suffering that the workers of LIAT have been experiencing for almost three years.
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“Most recently, the government of Barbados would have demonstrated its acceptance of this moral obligation by satisfying the former LIAT workers in that country with an ex gratia payment equivalent to the sum due to them as a consequence of the termination of their employment.” – David Massiah.
That statement is one that demonstrates a few points of dishonesty about the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU), and specifically Mr. Massiah.
Mr. Massiah admints in the statement above that the Barbados government made the payment as an “ex gratia payment” as a “moral obligation”. An ex gratia payment means that it is a payment given as a FAVOUR, not because of any LEGAL requirement. This is exactly what Prime Minister Browne has been saying. The government of Antigua and Barbuda has offered a payment, not because of any legal obligation but because of a recognition that the LIAT workers are suffering. Yet, the ABWU is attempting to force the government to make an offer that is beyond its capacity. The ABWU is being wicked to the LIAT workers.
Secondly, Mr. Massiah well knows that the amount offered by Barbados to BAJAN employees alone is WAY below the value of the Barbados 51% shareholding. In fact, what the Barbados government did was to pay only BAJANS, yet David Massiah expects the government of Antigua and Barbuda to pay all and sundry, and beyond its 31% shareholding. David Massiah and the ABWU are dishonest and uncaring.
The matter is simple: if the ABWU knows or believes that the the government is legally liable for what they are claiming, take the government to court and get the requisite judgement to force the government to pay the workers. Anything short of that is simply being evil to the workers. However, the reason why the ABWU have not gone to court is precisely because they know they have no case!
I am a former LIAT worker. Whilst I am not always in agreement with how this Government has handled the severance matter, I am mostly in agreement with Wash an Basin. David Massiah is using the LIAT workers to further his own political and professional agenda. He has never once called on the LIAT workers to hit the streets in protest like other workers did eg Jolly Beach, Pensioners, teachers, public Servants. He continues to rely on a 3 year old mandate to continue to stifle the worker’s ambitions. Times have changed and many workers need some money to move on in their lives. Yet Massiah refuses to call a meeting to get a fresh mandate from the workers. Let the workers decide what they want to do with the latest offer. All Massiah does is chat and respond to Gaston Browne in order to further his own personal agenda. It is time for the workers to speak and negotiate directly with the Government!!
@Rasiley
you minions keep thinking that people are stupid and don’t realise that its y’all pretending to be LIAT workers. NO LIAT WORKER WILL EVER AGREE WITH GASTON BROWN.
Actually you are dead wrong. But then again you will never hear the truth how the workers feel because Massiah refuses to call a union meeting for over 2 years in order to hear what the workers really feel. What is he afraid of? If he truly represents the workers then simply call a union meeting and get a fresh mandate. He won’t do that because many of the workers who are prepared to move on may just accept the PMs offer and embarrass Massiah.
And let us not forget that while LIAT workers suffer for over 3 years, Massiah does little but shout back at the PM. In the meantime Massiah continues to collect and NEVER misses at least 3 different salaries!! Workers suffer while he gets fat.
I am with you on this. I worked with liat 15 plus years and to accept 32% is total disrespect. Poor massiah trying to getbwhat we deserve and as always everything someone does is always political. How would you feel to know that your 32% amounts to $1000. The $500,000 being pumped into liat every month for almost 3 yrs now could have been used to pay severance. Open up your eyes people and know tour worth. Seaforth was contracted to be here for 4 months. He’s here almost 3 yrs but noone mentions this. Why isn’t his findings sent to the other shareholding government with his recommendations on the way forward with liat?
I believe that the shareholder of each country should be responsible for paying percentage owned in severance for each country in full.
@ Gaston Lest not forget that before LIAT went bankrupt you where fighting to become the largest shareholder in LIAT. Now you dont want to pay the workers severance, and using it as a bargaining chip between you and the union while the poor people suffer.
On top of that you plan to start a new LIAT while the former Liat worker’s have not received there severance yet.
So this Union boss praises Mia Motley for only taking care of the Barbadian’s in Barbados that were employed by LIAT. And Mia will only offer them cash BDS$75K and any balance in bonds. But Antigua should pay all LIAT staff 100%.
They don’t even say that our government should do like Barbados and offer only the Antigua and Barbuda workers from Liat EC$75K and the balance in bonds. If that were the case I believe our government would have settled immediately. Too bad for the non Antiguan and Barbudan Employees. Go to your own government for money. Everyone can now see how politically motivated this union is. Tgg he Ty would cry down their own government that has put on the table a more superior offer than that of Barbados, yet they will try to deceive the LIAT workers. And since the workers won’t stand up and tell their union where to get off they will lose in the end. Mark my words. They will lose big time
“Tgg he Ty” Should have read “Then they”
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