Bahamas News
Bahamasair Execs say Flight Attendants sick out is “illegal”; COI Leader calls on Government to pay the Staff
Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
The Bahamas, December 18, 2024 – A heated row over incremental payments when salaries of AAAWU members were raised between 2018 and 2023 has led to a major inconvenience to travellers on the national flag carrier, at least six flights were listed as cancelled due to an employee sick-out.
While Bahamasair executives, in correspondence obtained by Magnetic Media, have defended their position that every penny owed to the members engaged in the sick-out was paid, the Union leaders are adamant that monies remain outstanding and members want what is fully due to them.
It has moved from a row behind closed doors to an impasse which has now impacted public travel to destinations serviced by Bahamasair including Freeport, Grand Bahama; Ft Lauderdale, Florida; Rock Sound, Eleuthera and Marsh Harbour, Abaco.
In a statement from Bahamasair, the travelling public was told: “We regret to inform you that all afternoon flights scheduled for December 18, 2024, have been cancelled due to ongoing industrial action by Airport Airline & Allied Workers Union. We deeply apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and sincerely empathize with the disruption to your travel plans.”
The fiasco has ignited heated social media commentary and has elicited reaction from Lincoln Bain, leader of the Coalition for Independents (a political party in The Bahamas).
“The Bahamasair union has decided to hold a sickout. This has adversely affected my travel plans. That said, I SUPPORT THE ACTIONS OF THE BAHAMAS AIR WORKERS WHOLEHEARTEDLY. The government increased the PM’s record breaking travel budget but refuses to
pay the Bahamasair staff what is owed and due to them,” Bain chastised the government for its management of the country’s airline, “They can find the money to fly first class around the world eating steak and caviar but refuse pay the staff. The Government spent $1,500,000 on a trip to London for Brave and Pintard but can’t pay the Bahamasair staff! Stand your ground staff! They always have money for them but never have money when it comes to the Bahamian workers.”
“I can assure you that the politically appointed executives get their money on time. I am tired of Bahamians being treated like last class citizens in this country. Stand your ground Team Bahamasair. Either that money will go to you or it will go to more first class flights for the Politicians.”
Media reports indicate that 12 of 16 flight attendants assigned to the morning shift called in sick, in a move that “significantly impacted airline operations.”
Bahamasair believes the union is being unreasonable, calling the agreement struck two years ago “a very good one for the AAAWU.”
The document explains there was an 11.5% salary increase, four increments were added to salary for each year except 2020 and a lump sum payment was designated to cover the Covid year, 2020.
It was explained, in order to catch up on the payments as the contract was signed with only seven months remaining in the year, there were accelerated payments. Bahamasair itemises them as November 18, 2022; March 2, 2023; June 3, 2023 and July 4, 2023.
With the payments made, Bahamasair says that they closed the matter.
For the AAAWU however, there still remains some funds unpaid and members are unflinching on the point that they are owed six incremental payments. It is unclear why the two entities have recorded such a difference in accounting.
It was also explained that the Labour Department has mediated negotiations and a final offer by Bahamasair to end the dispute was proposed. The claim by the AAAWU was for six more incremental payments to be made to the staff in question; Bahamasair countered with an offer for two payments.
The correspondence from Bahamasair informed that there was no further communication from the union and the action taken on December 18 was described as, “surprising and not in the interest of good relationship. Management is demanding that all staff return to work as this in an illegal action by the union.”
We have not been able, up to publication time, to access comments from the AAAWU.
To customers of the airline, Bahamasair advised this: For further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Customer Care Center at 242-702-4140 or our Customer Relations team at 242-702-4159.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products concluded their 10 weeklong Twist To Win campaign with four $5,000 Mall at Marathon shopping sprees.
The campaign which was available throughout the entire Bahamas allowed consumers to enter by purchasing a 20oz bottle with a yellow cap
from the following brands: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, or Fanta Grape. Each yellow-cap had a unique alpha numeric code underneath which they submitted to the Twist To Win WhatsApp number.
With each qualifying purchase, participants residing in The Bahamas were entered to win instant prizes and into a grand prize draw to win one of four $5,000 shopping sprees at the Mall at Marathon.
Participants also enjoyed exciting instant prizes such as: Airpods, JBL Speakers, premium Coca-Cola merchandise, $500 Visa gift cards and Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music digital gift cards.
Out of 76,000 plus submissions, Brian Bethel, Ashia Demeritte, Merlin Adams, and Taraceta Neely won the coveted Mall at Marathon shopping sprees at the following select stores, Kelly’s House & Home, The Sports Center, John Bull, Brass & Leather, and BTC.
Leading up to the grand finale shopping spree, Coca-Cola hosted a Trivia Showdown with the eight finalists to determine the four winners. Finalists were tested on their knowledge of World History, Pop Culture, Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Facts!
After a few rousing rounds of trivia, the four winners were declared after each winning their spot in the shopping spree by answering their questions correctly and choosing the “Grand Prize” Coca-Cola labeled bottles at random.
The morning of the shopping spree Coca-Cola gave the winners exclusive access to the Mall at Marathon and its participating stores before
their usual operating hours. Grand prize winners were greeted with wide smiles from Coca-Cola brand representatives and morning bites before the big event.
At the start of the thirty-minute clock the grand prize winners along with each of their Coca-Cola shopping assistants ran to the various stores collecting items in their arms and carts.
Merlin Adams, a husband and father of four was proud to have executed his game-plan at the end of the shopping spree. With toys, a new phone and materials for his home from Kelly’s, Adams felt accomplished in what he gathered.
Taraceta Neely, a winner from Eleuthera collected beautiful bags for herself and relatives from Brass and Leather and Brian Bethel bought matching athletic and outdoor wear from The Sports Center for his family.
The final winner Ashia Demeritte bought linens and household items in addition to a new phone from BTC right in time for Christmas.
Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to share the real magic of Coca-Cola with the grand prize winners and the may instant prize winners across the Twist To Win campaign. For more updates on new products, promotions, and events follow www.cbcbahamas.com.
Bahamas News
The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products displayed
their astonishing Coca-Cola Art Project (CCAP), during Baha Mar’s five-day Culinary & Arts Festival. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola partnered with The University of The Bahamas’ Visual Art and Design Department for a culturally rich art competition. UB’s art students were challenged to create pieces surrounding the theme, Bahamian music.
As a result, 20 student works of art were made, with four students declared as winners at the CCAP exhibit opening in Baha Mar’s ECCHO: Art Gallery in August. To recreate the culturally stimulating magic felt at the exhibit’s premiere, the CCAP was featured at the FUZE Art Tent during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.
Nine incredible pieces of art lined the walls of the Coca-Cola Art Project, four of which included the winning pieces from Jhanaisia Cole,
with ‘Gaulin Bride’; Alyssa Pinder, with ‘Shotgun Wedding’; Nelson Gray, with ‘Untitled’; and Jaela Bowe, with the piece ‘Whims of Obeah, a Folktail’. Additionally, an intimate listening room was built. It displayed students’ artistic processes, UB Visual Art and Design representatives, and a recap of the exhibit opening for audiences.
Art enthusiasts also enjoyed premium limited-edition CCAP keepsakes at the booth. Journals which featured a collage of all 20 student submissions on the front and back cover, postcards with an art piece on the cover along with the student’s name, title, dimension and materials on the back and pens designed with the CCAP’s dynamic logo.
Throughout the art festival diverse groups of people visited the art tent taking in the displays while enjoying the artistic insights from the
listening booth.
Community and culture are always at the forefront of Caribbean Bottling Community, and it was boldly showcased during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for the third consecutive year.
For more details on the Coca-Cola Art Project, events and new products visit www.cbcbahamas.com today!
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor delighted Jollification
attendees with bubbles from their Bottega and Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne lines.
Located in the Monument Circle on The Retreat grounds, CWS transformed The Retreat Garden into a lush lounge with Besserat, Bouvet and their latest product addition, Bottega, during the two-day affair.
The festivities kicked off Friday during BNT Member’s Night. Guests enjoyed exclusive offerings from CWS’s catalogue, offered exclusively to members. Complimentary mixes or glasses on the rocks included El Tequileno tequila, Hard Truth whiskey, House of Angostura rum, Cross Keys gin, Nemiroff vodka and a slew of wines such as Fonesca Bin, Bottega and Besserat.
Guests also savored the ‘Jolly Paloma’ cocktail, an instant favorite made with El Tequileno tequila, Schweppes Grapefruit and Domaine de Paris rose wine. To end the night, guests were treated to branded limited-edition wine tumblers as keepsakes.
On Saturday and Sunday, Jollification attendees delighted in glasses or bottles of champagne and sparkling brut or rosé wines while taking
in the comfort of the chic lounge. In addition to purchasing bottles for onsite consumption, consumers were also able to purchase bottles as gifts whether for themselves or someone special.
The sophisticated “bubble lounge” lounge was decked with velvet couches, gold rimmed cocktail tables, blue and pink pillows, and a white floral branded backdrop created for capturing the perfect picture.
Caribbean Wines & Spirits, a historic partner of the Bahamas National Trust was pleased to support Jollification 2025 to kick off the festive season and share their expansive range of spirits.
To keep up to date with all CWS products and events, visit their website at www.cwsbahamas.com today.
