Union threatens to shut down operations at St. Vincent international airport

By Shanieka Smith

Staff Writer

#StVincent, August 21, 2022 – The St. Vincent Public Service Union (PSU) warns that operations at the Argyle International Airport (AIA) could be affected in September if management does not respond to the workers’ complaints.

According to PSU president Elroy Boucher, the workers were ready to withdraw their service last week, but the union had asked them to shelve industrial action while awaiting the outcome of talks with the new chairman of the board of directors of the state-owned company.

“Now, I’m putting this out to the media and the public because on the 29th of this month, we should commence negotiations on a collective agreement. But if these issues are not addressed, there will be industrial action at the AIA,” Boucher said.

He added that on September 18, 2020, the union submitted a collective bargaining agreement for negotiation for workers, but the AIA has not yet responded favorably to the call to negotiate; it has been almost two years.

Also, Boucher said that since 2017, the PSU brought several issues affecting workers to the AIA management and requested dialogue to address them.

“The PSU experienced resistance from the management of the AIA in having dialogue aimed at addressing the issues that are affecting workers. The management refused to meet with the union over a two-year period to have these issues addressed,” he said.