(Trinidad Guardian) The Industrial Court has granted an emergency injunction barring members of the T&T Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA) employed by Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) from continuing to engage in alleged protest action.
Industrial Court Judges Melvin Daniel, Albert Aberdeen, and Bindimattie Mahabir granted the injunction after an emergency hearing which began on Sunday night and ended early this morning.
The company obtained the ex-parte injunction after it was forced to cancel almost three dozen domestic, regional and international flights due to “cockpit crew constraints.”
Under the terms of the injunction members of the association including its executive members were restrained from engaging in industrial action including “calling in sick en masse.”
The association was also ordered to instruct its members to report for duty as rostered.
The injunction would be further considered by the Industrial Court on September 28.
CAL first addressed the issue on Sunday morning in a press release.
The release said: “Caribbean Airlines advises that there are disruptions to its operations for August 20 due to cockpit crew constraints. The airline is experiencing delays and cancellations to many of its international and domestic services. Affected customers are being advised and will be re-accommodated on the first available services.”
It provided more clarity over what transpired in a subsequent release.
“There has been a remarkably high volume of calls from pilots reporting that they are unwell and unable to report for duty. These calls came in at approximately three hours prior to flight departure times. It is to be noted that the airline is currently in negotiations with the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association over a collective agreement for the period 2015-2016,” it said.
“As a result of the sick calls, Caribbean Airlines has had to cancel several flights,” it added.
In a press release, the association denied any wrongdoing as it claimed that it was unaware of any strike action being taken by its members. It also acknowledged that under the Industrial Relations Act, it and its members are considered essential workers, who are barred from taking industrial action.
It described news reports alleging strike action by its members as mischievous.
“TTALPA and its members, therefore, refute the allegations of the news article and ensure the public that its members continue to fly with their safety and best interests at heart,” it said.