OPPRESSION OF OUR PILOTS

A GENERATION ago, George Chambers abused parliamentary privilege during a BWIA strike by publicly reading the medical records of Captain Malcolm Hernandez.

Chambers made damning statements about the well-being of Hernandez, who was then one of the few Trinidad and Tobago pilots with the national airline.

The 1978 assertions stunned the country and provoked widespread condemnation.

The PNM administration of the day also sacked 126 pilots and attempted to decertify the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA).

The Government went to the Industrial Court with its plea.

There were moves to recruit foreign pilots in what was a blatant attempt to kick out locals and “restructure” the airline.

History is repeating itself.

The hounding of medical practitioners who issued sick leave certificates for pilots’ absence from work last Sunday is oppressive and intimidating.

Workers are mandated to provide sick leave papers after more than two days off the job.

The management of Caribbean Airlines Ltd., (CAL) took time off from running the crisis-ridden carrier to identify, contact and warn doctors.

One such medic told me this was his first such approach from an employer in his three-decade-long career.

To be sure, pilots – who are employed in an essential service under the Industrial Relations Act – must be held accountable for any industrial action and concerted protests.

But the pestering of doctors suggests that the Government is reading from Chambers’ script on Hernandez.   

In addition, Attorney General Reginald Armour is now attempting to buy into the injunction against the pilots.

In other words, the CAL-TALPA is evolving into a political square-down.

Within days, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, fresh from his Bajan cool down, is expected to assemble the media for an anti-worker tongue-lashing.

As Dr. Eric Williams did in 1978, Rowley may appoint a task force to examine aviation services in the country.

That could be part of the circuitous route toward union-busting.

In all of this, CAL’s bosses have not attended to the litany of woes identified by employees in a public letter.

In addition, government ministers are shooting off their mouths at the pilots’ salary demands, which could have the effect of undermining the collective bargaining process.

In the meantime, where are the defenders of the working class?