Regional carrier LIAT has said it will not be paying employees for uncertified sickness beyond the number of days allowed under the labour laws of their respective territories.
According to the Antigua Observer newspaper, the announcement follows bitter public exchanges between the airlines management and the Leeward Islands Pilots’ Association (LIALPA) and the Leeward Islands Flight Attendants Association (LIFAA).
The Associations have hit back at charges leveled by LIAT board member Lennox Weston and other senior airline officials, that frequent illness among staff was responsible for the airline’s high volume of delays and cancellations.
Both staff representative bodies passionately denied the charge, and blamed the airline’s woes on “shortage of crew, poor working conditions and an incompetent management team”.
In a press statement, LIAT said workers were informed about the policy back in March and that it had already begun action which would affect employees across the board.
