An agreement between LIAT and pilots, ATR 72s will fly

The management of regional carrier LIAT and representatives of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) struck a deal late yesterday, bringing to an immediate end a three-day impasse over a demand for increased pay by the pilots.
Captain Carl Burke, President of LIALPA, confirmed that a Consent Order was signed just before 6 pm yesterday between LIALPA and LIAT’s acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Julie Reifer-Jones.
The order outlines an agreement on the payment terms for extra money to fly the larger planes and retroactive pay.
According to Captain Burke, this means LIALPA’s membership will immediately resume flying the ATR 72s which LIALPA had instructed them not to fly from June 7 up until yesterday.
The agreement will be formalised today, at 10 am in the Industrial Court.
Earlier yesterday, LIAT’s management issued a statement in response to Captain Burke’s claim that some pilots had been deliberately left stranded because of the stance they took to force management to honour an earlier deal over pay for flying the aircraft which carries more passengers than the Dash 8s, which were previously used.
The captain had advised the pilots not to fly to any destination that would result in them having to remain away from home.
 
(More in today’s Daily Observer)