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Civil Aviation responds to BATCU communication on Air Traffic Controllers holiday pay
By Bahamas Information Services
Mar 25, 2015 - 1:30:44 PM

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The Department of Civil Aviation is compelled to once again respond to erroneous assertions made by the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union (BATCU) that the Government of The Bahamas is acting in violation of the Employment Act, by deliberately delaying the payment of holiday pay to members of the bargaining unit.

Again, the Department affirms that effective December 24, 2014 it was agreed that holiday pay would be made in lieu of the previous practice, which said practice is in accordance with public service policy.

Prior to the December 2014 meeting, the Union had raised concerns that the one day vacation leave to be applied to their accumulated vacation leave for working on a public holiday was not being applied. It was therefore agreed that CAD would review employee accumulated vacation leave records. That exercise has now been completed by the Department. It is now necessary for the Union to meet with the Department to review and agree the record so that appropriate adjustments may be made.

The Union is very aware that this adjustment will be made shortly, and that there will be no loss suffered by any of the controllers.

It is also important to note that the agreement made in December 2014 was made after the passage of the Government’s budget by the Parliament of The Bahamas which came into effect in July, 2014.

It will therefore have been clear that the funds necessary for the holiday payments were not in the approved budget, and would therefore have to be obtained by Contingency Funding.

It is important to note that there have already been several payments made to the members of the Air Traffic Controllers Union for shift premium and training allowances.

The Department therefore continues to show good faith and act in accordance with the Industrial Agreement with the BATCU.

The Public must be made to know that the Union is aware that vouchers have been prepared and are being processed for holidays worked as per the December 2014 agreement, it is therefore not clear why the Union continues to make public statements which are contrary to the known facts and even further would seek to threaten industrial action in these circumstances.

The Department reiterates that threatened disruption of air traffic services during peak travel periods is unjustified and contrary to the good faith that is expected between parties who are in the midst of negotiation of an industrial agreement. Needless to say such unjustified action will inflict undue harm to the national economy.


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