NASSAU, BAHAMAS – After almost four years, Nassau Air Flight Services (NAFS) and the Airport Airline and Allied Workers’ Union (AAAWU) signed an industrial agreement last Friday at the Department of Labour.
According to Ricardo Rolle, a representative of NAFS, the agreement resolves longstanding financial issues between both parties dating back to February 2015 when the last contract expired.
The present agreement, according to Rolle, will expire in 2020.
Rolle said despite taking nearly four years to come to a finalized agreement that satisfies all parties, he is sure that the next contract set for 2020 will move smoothly.
He also revealed that while the company agrees with the Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Dionisio D’Aguilar in saying tourism arrivals are up, he cannot say the same for the company.
“The number of aircrafts may not have increased but a lot of the airlines, they have increased the size of their aircraft and have brought a lot more guests to The Bahamas,” Rolle said. “But the effect on Nassau Air Flight Services is not the same when looking at it.
President of the AAAWU, Jewel Fountain, said the union has made concessions because of tough economic times.
“The contract includes a six per cent salary increase over a five-year period with 22 months retro activity,” Fountain revealed.
“It is my hope that in the new year they do not find out that their standard of living has been depreciated because of the cost of increase and the percentage that they have agreed to.”