The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Operations at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) were “back to normal” yesterday, its operator confirmed to Tribune Business.

A day after the country’s major gateway was plagued by significant passenger processing delays, due to a shortage of Immigration officers, Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) chief executive, Vernice Walkine, confirmed to Tribune Business that yesterday was “a normal day of operations” at LPIA.

“Passengers are being processed in very reasonable fashion, and there have been no delays, and no complaints,” Ms Walkine said in an e-mailed response to Tribune Business.

According to figures provided to Tribune Business by NAD, international arrivals yesterday were estimated at 2,472, and domestic arrivals at 1,162. Estimated domestic and international departures were 1,218, with US departures estimated at 2,619.

By comparison, on Wednesday international arrivals were estimated at 3,388, and domestic arrivals at 785. Estimated domestic and international departures were at 1,390, with US departures estimated at 2,600.

On Wednesday, more than a dozen Immigration officers scheduled to work reportedly called in sick, but the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU) denied that there was a sick out or work-to-rule.

A Government press release outlining the current state of negotiations between the BCIAWU and the Government said the union had registered several trade disputes with the Department of Labour, the last being on October 23, 2013.

“The union applied to the Minister of Labour for a strike vote to be taken in respect to the several matters in dispute on March 7, 2014. The Minister of Labour obliged the union and a strike vote was supervised by officers of the Department of Labour on 14 March, 2014,” the release said.

“On March 15, 2014, a certificate was issued to the union by the Minister certifying the results of the strike poll. During the month of August 2014, the Trades Union Congress engaged in several public pronouncements concerning a possible general strike involving its affiliates.

“During the week of September 8, the Customs and Immigration and Allied workers, along with other affiliates of the TUC, initiated a strike action. The Minister of Labour, being aware of the gravity of the situation and the potential negative impact such strike action could have on the Bahamian community, sought the relief of the courts by way of injunction on 10 September, 2014, restraining the union and its members from any further industrial action. The courts ruled that the actions of the union ought to cease immediately as the strike was in violation of the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act,” the release added.

“It should be noted that while any strike action taken in furtherance of a dispute following a duly certified strike vote is deemed to be legal prior to its referral to the Industrial Tribunal, and protects workers from being dismissed for engaging in such action, this does not prevent an employer from cutting the salaries of workers who have withdrawn their labour.

“The Minister at all material times remained open and amenable to further discussions between his Ministry and the Trade Union Congress, and in this regard a meeting was held on Saturday September 13, 2014, wherein the Trades Union Congress was invited to itemise and prioritise all matters in dispute relative to the several unions under that umbrella, which included the Customs and Immigration and Allied Workers Union.”

The Government release said the BCIAWU has yet to return to the table to finalise an agreed contract.