News
Rules for Industrial Action proposed by TCI Airports Authority
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, June 27, 2022 – In the wake of a major shutdown at the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) on June 18 because of a sudden firefighters’ strike over wages and a narrowly avoided strike from security
In a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, June 22 the government said it noted a paper from the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority that requested that new laws be put into place to set protocols for industrial action.
The government has requested more time to consider any legislative amendments that will be made to the TCIAA Ordinance to regulate industrial action by employees of the company. It is almost a certainty that amendments to the bill will pass the cabinet stage as the government promised they would reach the house of assembly “in due time”
Whether the proposed amendments to the protocol for strikes would only apply to employees of the TCIAA or all public sector workers was not revealed, and the severity of the promised changes has not yet been revealed to the public but what is likely to be included is a clause prohibiting unannounced strike action.
Over the last decade, the TCIAA staff have had to resort to industrial action at least six times under both PDM and PNP administrations.
The Government says it is “committed” to fixing the issues, especially salary disparities at the airport.