By Robert Andre Emmanuel
Nearly three months after completing their cabin crew training, more than a dozen individuals engaged by the new LIAT 2020 airline have been left without jobs or income, with no word coming from the airline’s management as to potential resolutions to the situation.
According to an anonymous source familiar with the situation, at least 13 people of different Caribbean nationalities were offered and accepted a six-week training contract, starting from late June to mid-August on the premise that they would be hired as cabin crew once their programme was complete.
However, any word on when and if they would be hired as full-time staff remains “unconfirmed” since their contracts ended on August 16, even though the source said they were measured for uniforms.
Observer media has learned that one other trainee went to another media house which published a story was on October 3 and complained about the situation.
According to the source, the trainees were told “keep studying because you are going to need this time home to ensure that you have all the information”.
The trainees, who left their previous jobs to pursue their aviation dreams with LIAT 2020, were paid a monthly stipend of just over $1,500 during the training period.
But the company has reportedly not continued this payment since the contracts expired, leaving many in limbo or seeking alternative jobs.
“We are now sitting at home with no job and no salary, and the company has gone silent,” the source told Observer media. “A lot of us just want to know what it is happening and … it’s painful for all of us, at the end of the day.”
“A lot of us had to now look for other means of finance or sources of income just to make ends meet or pay bills or assist our family members,” lamented the source.
“LIAT only said to us that they sympathise and it’s sad because sympathising I cannot go to any institution, any business and say to them that LIAT sympathises, so that should cover my bill.”
After the story was published, Observer media learned that in an email to the trainees, LIAT 2020’s main liaison (officer) with the trainees acknowledged the “challenges the company has faced in the last few months, particularly concerning issues with their aircraft and the flight school”.
They expressed empathy for the trainees’ frustration and asked for their continued patience and understanding.
The company also invited the trainees to a meeting on October 9 to “engage in dialogue about the way forward” and discuss how to improve the work environment going forward.
However, our source informed us that the meeting also saw LIAT officials asking the trainees about the leaks.
However, the source expressed scepticism about the company’s openness, stating: “It’s very confusing that you’re trying to foster that culture of [openness], but yet still the information that needs to be brought forth or the communication that needs to be had between the trainees and persons within LIAT isn’t hard.
“The openness doesn’t seem there because regular updates are what a lot of us would hope we would get, even if it’s on a monthly basis but it took someone going to the media to actually get an update and at the time, the update was that they were experiencing delays with parts, with getting certain things done and they also had plans to train us for the jets that are being used for flights currently as the ATR is still under rehabilitation,” they said.
However, the trainees said the information was still vague and did not give them a clear timeline for when they might be able to start work.
“They would not be able to put us in temporary positions as we would not have the training or the necessary training for certain positions, even though a lot of us, at the time would have left higher paying jobs that would have sustained us on a monthly basis,” lamented the source.
“It’s hurtful because a lot of us just want to know what it is happening and … we’re still getting other information stating that there’s a possibility it won’t be ready till December or even the start of the New Year and to have persons sitting down, not knowing whether that is true or not, kind of puts people in a state of worry and I don’t think LIAT really understands the place they’ve put us in.”
Other trainees shared similar sentiments of confusion, frustration and despair over unclear communication and lack of transparency coming from LIAT 2020’s management.
Observer media has sent an email to corporate communications team at LIAT 2020 for a response to the story, to which the airline said they would provide a comment later today.
If their contracts have expired they should notify LIAT in writing that unless they receive new signed contracts within 7 days they will understand that LIAT has abandoned it’s commitments to employ them. They will then be free to pursue careers of their own choosing without further notice.
So what I understand from this situation is that Liat 2020 employed these people with a projection in mind that there will be a demand for Liat flights, other airlines have filled the void of Liat so they are going to have a tuff time gaining back support
Seems to me it’s the same old 1974 LIAT same old HR head. What a way to start LIAT 20.
The New LIAT needs to look at the old employees and their ability to move the Airline forward. The Caribbean People are waiting patently to see LIAT in the air serving the Caribbean.