By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
TEN Sky Bahamas pilots and several temporary workers have been terminated as the airline overhauls operations to fight for survival.
The terminations are being challenged by the pilot’s union that has announced plans to file a trade dispute for unfair dismissal.
Randy Butler, chief executive, confirmed that the company is in the midst of a critical restructuring that will affect all areas of the airline, adding that the decision was a forced reaction to the recent actions taken by pilots last weekend.
The airline was left scrambling to find alternative measures to accommodate scores of passengers when 12 pilots did not report to work on Saturday, October 12.
Yesterday, Mr Butler said they offered the pilots an opportunity to be furloughed, a practice that places workers on temporary leave as a result of economic conditions at the company.
However, Mr Butler said all unionized pilots opted for severance packages.
“The guys are quality people,” he said, “it’s unfortunate they made the decision that they did. Things were already bad, that sick-out was done with no regard for other employees. We had to adjust operations to ensure quality service. It was an ill-thought out, ill-advised decision.”
“We’ve had to reduce operations completely,” he said. “We’re not going to shut down, but what we’re facing is survival. So we have to restructure in these tough times, we are trying to work out the details with our staff and in all areas be creative.”
Yesterday, Bahamas Pilot’s Alliance president Mark Johnson accused the airline of “union busting”, pointing out that the terminations were an intimidation tactic to bully members.
He maintained that the number of pilots reporting sick was a coincidence and not organized by the union. He added that all 10 pilots had relevant documentation to support their absence.
Mr Johnson questioned why the airline hired two new pilots after the terminations. He said the union will demand severance packages for the dismissed pilots.
Mr Johnson said: “It’s quite obvious that they’re using intimidation tactics to try and bully members. All 10 pilots had doctor’s notes, it seems like [industrial action] but it was merely a coincidence, it just looked that way. I can only tell you the facts.”
Mr Butler said the company lost more than $123,000 due to the incident that he believes was orchestrated by the BPA.
He added that the “sick out”, occurring over the National Heroes Day holiday weekend, had deprived Sky Bahamas of critical income at what is the slowest point in the tourist/travel industry season.
“We’re flying routes with two or three persons on it right now,” Mr Butler said. “That sick-out really crippled us.”
The matter has uprooted an outstanding contract proposal made by the BPA to Sky Bahamas in June, of which Mr Butler accused the union of trying to “strong arm” management into granting requests that are unrealistic.
Comments
USAhelp 11 years, 1 month ago
This was a organised sick out. Only a dumb a#& would think otherwise.
marrcus 11 years, 1 month ago
The integrity of Mark Johnson needs to be questioned here. "pilots reporting sick was a coincidence" NO WAY.
henny 11 years, 1 month ago
They were offered opportunity to be furloughed not termination. Pilots opted severance pay instead which is not being terminated. That is resigning your position or retiring. As for being "sick" that is their excuse and was done in unison. Anyone can get a "note" from the doctor stating illness especially if they go to the doctor.
bismark 11 years, 1 month ago
I am no fan of Mr Butler,but I do agree with him,if you wanted your job you would have been there,you reported sick?its a coincidence all you all was sick the same time?i am sure there are plenty young pilots out there looking for employment,this has been going on too long in this country,where employees do all sorts of shit and get away with it,now they crying about they got fired?fire more if the rest of them still there!
B_I_D___ 11 years, 1 month ago
Go Randy Go!! In total agreement. Staff can get pretty bigoty some times thinking they are indispensable. As a result of their foolishness, you lost serious money and are now on the verge of having to close or restructure. I bet instead of them reviewing their actions and thinking they chose poorly, they are probably all up in arms and not willing to accept that the consequences were 100% their doing. Mr. Butler is now having to react to the added financial stress. Some people just don't look at the bigger picture sometimes...it's all me me me and screw everyone else.
deablo01 11 years, 1 month ago
only one who feels it knows it, everybody in Aviation knows that Randy Butler is not a nice person, and for the individual that made the statement that there are quite a number of young pilots that could have the job, I do agree but I can assure you that after a few years of working for Randy Butler, they would be taking the same course of actions, sky and western all have a huge turnover and it is simply because , the individuals that run these airlines are savages and refuse to treat their staff as human, being an aviation professional myself I urge young individuals in this profession to seek employment overseas if you have a passion for what you do, your employment would not be pleasant one working for those BLACK hard heeled modern day pirates, it is great that they all took a stand one time, it may be scary but greater things to come for each and every one of the pilots, Mr butler always thought that Bahamians were stupid, now here is your chance to recruit, pilots from the south American rain forest.
KARMA IS A BITCH.
B_I_D___ 11 years, 1 month ago
I outsource the labour for my garden and pay the person a fraction of the cost because no Bahamian will do the work. Really only two options...pay through the nose for a landscaping firm you can hold responsible for lack of work...or hire a haitian who will run circles around any Bahamian gardener...just saying.
john33xyz 11 years, 1 month ago
You may be right about Mr. Butler - I do not know him. However, this move was just silly. If you don't like your job then find a NEW one. No new ones to find? That is, no good paying, well treating jobs, pleasant workplaces? Then stop having children. Where do you expect them to work when they grow up? You want them to be a slave just like you?
John 11 years, 1 month ago
The problem is everyone sees the top line of a business but no one wants to accept the bottom line (net profit) as being real. Employees, many times do not realize the sacrifices small business owners make to keep them employed, make sure they are paid regularly , if not on time and sometimes go years without the company realizing a profit. They say the owners are mean, cheap, and have bad ways. But these are the attributes that keep the company afloat. When you as a pilot stage a sickout on a holiday, you essentially put a knife in the heart of the business. The business is seasonal so they will never recover that lost revenue So now you get to see what the bleeding cost and unfortunately it may include your job. And you can bet the person who instigated the action still has his job.
lazybor 11 years, 1 month ago
They are indefensible.Point.
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TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
Does a company owner have the right to take disciplinary action. In this case one that resulted in the termination of pilots. Is not showing up for work as a group to earn your paychecks,sufficient grounds for reinstatement back into your cockpits??
MD242 11 years, 1 month ago
All you folks talking don't know what those pilots have been going through for years that made them take action. Being schedule for 14hrs daily before the duty laws were change with no overtime pay, or if they got it they were short. Getting paid without a pay slip so they have no idea where they were being cut. They were talked to and treated badly by that man whom you folks are defending. His time has come, his greed is being expose but he's putting the blame on the pilots and Bahamasair pilots like he always does. You cannot treat your workers like crap and think they are gonna stay at the company for long or do good work for you, its only fair. He ruined a lot of lives now it's his karma biting him in the backside.
MD242 11 years, 1 month ago
Ask anyone about him in the aviation industry. He's a good BS talker hence why u folks believing he's the victim when it's the pilots who fly those planes with inoperative items that he won't pay to fix!
DMoe 11 years, 1 month ago
If a company does not want you to work for them, they have the right to terminate you and pay you what is owed to you. As an employee, you do not own or have any shares in the company and the union is there to ensure that you are treated fairly and have good working conditions. If you chose to act the fool and demand of the company rights that you are not entitled to and the company fires your behind, as long as you get your pay then its goodbye and thanks for the memories.
John 11 years, 1 month ago
One company had a policy that if an employee did not show up to work on Christmas Eve, they were automatically terminated. They were in the retail business and Christmas Eve was the biggest sales day of the year, so if you didn't show up to work, you were fired Staff that did show up got their regular pay, Christmas bonus checks and paid holidays for Christmas and Boxing Day. Plus New Years Day in the following week. In the present economy a half job is better than no job at all. After the Discovery Day holiday, airlines, like many other businesses go through a dry period until December, but many try to keep all their staff fully employed and paid
john33xyz 11 years, 1 month ago
You are right about that Christmas Eve thing. Most likely you are talking about the jewellery business. Believe it or not, on xmas eve and xmas together those businesses actually bring in 50% of their entire year's sales. That is truly truly hard to believe. I mean a whole half-year's worth of sales in only two days!!!! But it is true. I've been there, done that.
In that case I can understand the policy of termination as long as it is explained to new employees at the time of hiring and also as long as new employees are given compensation or other consideration if they are hired like within 2 months of xmas and can prove they have paid plane tickets or other paid plans for the holiday. Other than that, you knew about it long enough and signed and agreed to it - so you need to work those days.
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