Sacked Fly Jamaica workers still to receive salaries

…claim meeting with Labour Dept was for “show”

Three months after meeting with the Social Protection Ministry’s Labour Department, sacked workers of Fly Jamaica are still awaiting a word from the Government with respect to the payment of salaries.

An employee, who served as a flight attendant, reached out to Guyana Times stating that the meeting held with the workers three months ago was just a “show”, as the Department never contacted any of the sacked workers following same.
The female staffer explained that the sacked workers are still awaiting their payments and are becoming frustrated as even the Government seems to be failing them and are unable to make proper representation.
This publication understands that the embattled airline still owes workers for the period November 2018 through March 2019.
Fly Jamaica had made its staff redundant at the end of March as was announced by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paul Ronald Reece in a letter to employees dated Friday, March 29, 2019.
It has been reported that the Jamaica-based airline had employed some 400 persons, and Reece had assured employees that the compensation they are owned from November to date would be paid, but he pleaded for time to fulfil this commitment.
After weeks of suspense, the Labour Department finally met with the workers who claimed the meeting failed to address the issue of owed salaries, among other important matters.
Nevertheless, along with ex-staffers, passengers are still awaiting refunds from booked tickets. In May, some 46 complaints were received by the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission which value about $8,316,504. However, more recently, the agency said the number of reports received has doubled.
The airline became crippled following a November 9 crash last year. The Boeing 757 flight destined for Toronto, Canada crash-landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, after encountering hydraulic issues.
It was reported that the flight took off around 02:10h but later returned to the airport where the aircraft crash-landed at about 02:53h.
Hope recently surfaced for the airline when new investors announced their move to take over the Fly Jamaica.
On July 29, it was reported that a team of investors including Jamaican aviation veteran, Glenn Logan, led by Yann LeProvost of the French-based company W&Y SAS has taken over the problem-plagued airline.
The new owners took over on July 26 from Guyanese operators, Paul and Roxanne Reece. They have since pledged their commitment to addressing the issues affecting the airline, such as owed salaries to workers and compensation for tickets.
This promise however remains in limbo as the investors are presently ironing out matters with regards to Fly Jamaica’s Insurance.