Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
Members of the Jamaica Airline Pilots Association (JALPA) share a laugh before signing a three-year wage agreement with the management of Air Jamaica at Jamaica House yesterday. From left are Lisa Elliott, executive secretary of JALPA, Ludlow Beckford, president, Edward Miller, vice-president and Ludlow Johnson, a member of the negotiating team. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
AFTER 18 hours of intense negotiations, the Jamaica Airline Pilots Association (JALPA) and the management of Air Jamaica yesterday signed off on a three-year agreement that will see pilots accepting a reduction in basic salaries and a cut in fringe benefits.
The signing took place at Jamaica House and was witnessed by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, representatives of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ludlow Beckford, president of JALPA, said: "It's been a long, hard struggle and we are very relieved that it is finally over."
HOPES FOR THE FUTURE
He added: "The pilots feel that they have done a lot to help the airline and the country and it is something that we proudly do. We hope that this will go a long way in keeping the airline in operation because it is very important to all of us."
According to Mr. Beckford, under the agreement the remaining 180 pilots who were facing redundancy will keep their jobs and there were plans to re-employ the 40 whose positions had previously been made redundant.
Dr. Vin Lawrence, chairman of Air Jamaica, welcomed the agreement and noted that it was critical to the viability of the company.
Noel Hylton, head of the Air Jamaica negotiating team, added that the agreement would allow the company to save millions of dollars on salaries and overtime.
Air Jamaica's management was seeking concessions of US$12 million from its pilots, who had accounted for 30 per cent of the airline's annual wage bill of US$100 million. The airline, which returned to state control last December, has accumulated US$800 million in liability during the 10 years under private ownership.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson lauded yesterday's labour agreement and said that the event was of "extraordinary importance". He also dismissed calls made for a commission of enquiry into the airline, arguing it was not necessary. He said, instead, Minister of Finance Dr. Omar Davies will table a Ministry Paper in Parliament, to answer questions about the national carrier.
The Prime Minister said: "For me, the focus now has to be on repositioning the national airline to discharge its unique role and special functions in the acceleration of economic growth for our nation."
The wage agreement ends almost two years of negotiations between the pilots and the national airline. On Monday, the talks broke down, but resumed on Wednesday following the intervention of the Prime Minister.
Details of the agreement include:
1) An increase in flying hours to 80 hours per month before pilots are paid overtime instead of after 72 hours.
2) Pilots will no longer receive overtime pay during vacation and sick leave.
3) Meal allowances per duty period will be reduced from US$75 to US$60 for North American and Caribbean flights and from US$105 to US$90 for UK flights.
4) Pilots will no longer be paid meal allowances if they do not operate flights.
5) Midnight duty allowance has been eliminated.
6) Navigation pay has been reduced by 20 per cent.
7) The company will not pay for any US health insurance.
8) Air Jamaica Holdings can hire new pilots without reference to JALPA.
