Caribbean Airlines’ (CAL) offer of a 7 1/2% wage increase has been rejected the pilots attached to the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA).
The airline has offered the pilots 7 1/2 over five years (2015-2020), as well as a shift from a monthly to an hourly payment system.
However, CAL’s offer is no where close to what the pilots are demanding.
According to reports, CAL previously offered 0 per cent, 2.5 per cent, 2.5 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 0 per cent to cover the five-year period.
TTALPS had counter-proposed 0 per cent, 4 per cent, 4 per cent, 4 per cent and 1 per cent for the bargaining period.
CAL agreed to facilitate a five-year agreement but indicated that its initial proposal of a five per cent lumpsum for 2018 to 2019 (year 3) considered increases that had already been applied, as well as the company’s financial position.
CAL also informed TTALPA of its intention to consider the increases during that period once the association agreed to the removal of Clause V of Article 17 from the current Collective Agreement. This clause gives pilots the option to continue employment with the airline under the same terms and conditions until age 65, or retire immediately with full pension benefits.
Additionally, CAL proposed to transition from a monthly salary system to an hourly rate payment structure across all fleets, coupled with a reduction in the minimum work guarantee from 75 to 60 hours (about 2 and a half days). Instead, the company suggested that overtime rates be applied after 75 hours (about 3 days).
TTALPA, in its response on August 18, 2023, indicated to the company that its proposal erodes the basic salary benefit of “the professional pilots”, since its suggestion effectively meant a 20 per cent proposed reduction in their current monthly salaries.
TTALPA instead made a reduced counteroffer of 0 per cent, 3 per cent, 3 per cent, 3 per cent and 1 per cent in the hope of closing the negotiations.