The placard-bearing Oswell Hoyte and other workers on strike yesterday at Granley Adams Airport.

by Maria Bradshaw

ABOUT 50 employees at the Caribbean Aircraft Handling Company (CAHC) stopped working and peacefully protested yesterday afternoon outside the departure lounge at Grantley Adams International Airport, Christ Church.

Under the watchful eye of four police officers, they brought attention to what they said were several work-related grievances outstanding for two years.

The workers, from all departments, are responsible for loading and off-loading luggage, cleaning aircraft and providing security.

However, by yesterday evening, they went back to work after union representative Clifford Mayers met with management and assured them that salary negotiation discussions would be held on Monday and Tuesday.

Management at CAHC, who were given notice of the strike action from the previous day, quickly put alternative arrangements in place and disruption of flights was kept to a minimum. Yesterday's action came at the time of the week when activity at the airport is at its peak.

In a press release, chief executive officer Irvine Griffith apologised to the six airline companies which they are responsible for, namely – bmi, Caribbean Star, Caribbean Sun, LIAT, US Airways and Virgin Atlantic and to the travelling public for any inconvenience they might have suffered.

He stated: "We are very concerned that our staff took industrial action at this time since we are in discussions with the Barbados Workers' Union, their recognised representative. Acting in good faith, Caribbean Aircraft Handling has followed established industrial relations protocol and has referred our discussions to the Labour Department for conciliation and mediation."

But shop steward Oswell Hoyte vowed that the industrial action would proceed until their concerns were adequately addressed.

A bare-footed Hoyte, the only placard-bearing protester, held high a placard with the words: "Can't Afford Shoes," said the matter had been going on for too long.

He said that they were divided into teams to work with the various airlines and charged that there was discrimination because the teams working with Virgin, US Airways, and bmi were getting more money than the teams working with the other airlines.