Union signs airport deal
LPIA employees' benefits include pension, insurance, bonuses, raises: By Bianca Symonette, Guardian Staff Reporter, bianca@nasguard.com - More than 100 employees at the Lynden Pindling International Airport will benefit from the first industrial contract between Nassau Airport Development Company and the Bahamas Public Service Union. The new five-year contract is retroactive to April 1, 2007 and will expire on December 31, 2011. All benefits prior to April 1st will be the responsibility of the Airport Authority to have completed. The new agreement covers 104 employees and governs working relationships with all non-management and non-supervisory employees. That includes concierges, operations staff, maintenance staff, parking attendants, clerks, assisting and accounting staff. Chairman of NAD Frank Watson described the signing of the agreement as an important step in developing the LPIA. "We regard the signing of this agreement as a very important step in our overall plan because we recognize the critical role that our employees will play in the successful redevelopment of Lynden Pindling International Airport. Our goal is to create a first-class airport experience and we require first-class employees to help us achieve this goal," Watson said. He added that NAD has big plans and expectations of their employees and he hopes they are wholeheartedly committed to the transformation of the airport. Some of the benefits of the agreement, which was six months in the making, includes bonuses, insurance plans, pension plans and enhanced salaries based on employee performance. "We are feeling very upbeat today because we believe we have achieved an agreement that is beneficial to all parties," said President and CEO of NAD Craig Richmond. "We are working with a great team of people and we have some very ambitious plans to invest in our human resources through continuous staff development and training." He continued. "It is our intention that these training initiatives will positively impact the service levels at Lynden Pindling Airport while providing further opportunities for staff advancement." The new industrial contract will provide the employees with many new benefits and opportunities. In highlighting the benefits, Stewart Steeves, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance at NAD, said that the employees will be introduced to a performance pay system, where annual pay increases will be based on individual performance and good performance will be rewarded with higher-than-average pay increases. NAD will also introduce a bonus plan where employees can share in the success of the company. Also included in the industrial agreement is a long-term disability plan and a contributory pension plan with employer matching of employee contributions. "Another important aspect of this agreement is that it provides us with increased flexibility, by allowing us to employ part-time workers, who will receive benefits pro-rated to the hours worked. Furthermore, provision has been made for shift lengths up to 12 hours, with a four day on four day off schedule," Steeves said. He added that NAD is satisfied that the agreement is fair and that it provides attractive benefits for staff, more benefits from ever before. President of the BPSU John Pinder said he also was satisfied that the union got the best deal it could at this time. He added that he is impressed with the benefits of the five-year agreement and noted that he was overly impressed with the implementation of life and medical insurance for the employees and the pension scheme. Pinder also indicated that employees transferring from the Airport Authority will not lose previous benefits. "I am also satisfied that NAD has appointed a manager of the people which should be beneficial to the employees. I am very impressed with the manager of the people in the human resource area," Pinder said. NAD was established for the purpose of managing, operating and maintaining and developing LPIA and has a 30-year agreement with the Airport Authority and the government. NAD assumed responsibility for most of the physical infrastructure of the airport on April 1st this year. The company has already made improvements to the airport's domestic parking and its restrooms. Richmond said lots of work has already been completed in providing adequate parking. In that regard the company has created an additional 100 parking spaces in the airport's domestic section. The company also opened an additional parking area known as the overflow parking lot. That area, which is a short distance from the terminal, now has two shuttle buses providing services to and from the terminal. Richmond also indicated that the company has already invested $2.2 million in creating a new baggage system which allows passengers' bags to be transported to the plane from the check-in area. "The public will see some real improvement in the New Year. In the next four months new restrooms will be available and in a year-and-a-half, additional improvements will be seen throughout," Richmond said. While the company is still on target for the new terminal, Richmond indicated that it has hit some snags in smaller projects, especially in the area of refurbishing the restrooms, where pipes are over 50 years old. Nevertheless, he said he is very satisfied with what they have accomplished thus far. NAD will be redeveloping the airport in a six-year phased program that will include enhancements to the current facility and the building of new and renovated terminal facilities
January 21, 2008
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