CAL pilots

The Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots’ Association (TTALPA) says while it remains open to dialogue with Caribbean Airlines, there is the potential for disruptions if the current salary negotiation stalemate persists.

This after the association yesterday expressed its disapproval over the latest developments in ongoing talks with CAL.

Despite Finance Minister Colm Imbert giving CAL the go-ahead to accept the association’s request for a four per cent salary increase, TTALPA industrial relations consultant Timothy Bailey accused the CAL board of “hijacking” the negotiation process. He claimed the board introduced new demands at the eleventh hour.

Bailey said, “The articles in question pertain to long-standing provisions dating back to a 2011 Memorandum of Agreement aimed at ensuring parity between Jamaican and Trinidadian pilots. These provisions address disparities in payment structures, including the Jamaican pilots’ partial payment in US dollars.”

He argued that the board’s demand to remove these articles contradicts prior agreements and undermines the integrity of the negotiation process.

Yesterday, TTALPA said the agreement was supposed to be signed off on December 6 but because of the sudden change, this did not happen. Instead, the association requested an emergency meeting with the board to discuss these developments. It said the board declined, citing short notice, further straining relations.

“We know this is a season where you have a lot of travelling. Our loved ones are coming into the country etc … and we do not want to be an obstacle, but we have reached to the point where enough is enough. We are asking good industrial relations, common sense to prevail and the board to revert to the initial position of their negotiations,” Bailey said.

Yesterday, TTALPA’s leadership attended an emergency meeting with CAL chief executive officer Garvin Medera, in the hope of ending the stalemate.

During the meeting, TTALPA said it was informed that the company “did not fully understand” the terms of Article 23—one of the disputed provisions.

TTALPA said it provided context for the article, emphasising its historical significance and its role in ensuring equity among pilots.

“We have seen in recent times that this board has prioritised a J’Ouvert band. We have seen that this board has prioritised the creation of a rum punch. And all we are saying is, while you continue to open up different destinations that Caribbean Airlines is flying to, the pilots, and not only the pilots, your staff, are integral in achieving that objective and ensuring that this company, Caribbean Airlines—a very important staple to Trinidad and Tobago—remains an entity that is viable and relieves our people of unnecessary hardship and burdens,” Bailey said.

He added, “Unfortunately, it appears that the employees, and in this case, the pilots, are not that priority. Maybe rum punch will fly planes, or maybe the J’Ouvert band—they might find people in the J’Ouvert band to fly planes.”

The airline recently announced a new rum punch to its flight service food and beverage offerings and a J’Ouvert band for Carnival 2025.

Efforts to contact Minister Imbert for comment were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued last evening, CAL said the company continues to work collaboratively with TTALPA to resolve outstanding wage issues.

It said the signing of the negotiation is imminent.

However, CAL said reports of potential disruptions are inaccurate and has assured customers that all operations are proceeding as normal.

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