25 BWIA executives accept pay cuts By Curtis Rampersad Express 06.11.03 Twenty-five executives of national carrier BWIA have agreed to take pay cuts as high as 15 per cent to help the cash-strapped airline reduce expenses to qualify for financial aid from the government. BWIA's top managers yesterday signed documents to accept the pay cuts. Government has directed that it will not give the airline financial aid unless it reduces its operating expenses. BWIA has been promised $116.8 million in financial assistance but needs to reduce operating costs to qualify for the money from the government. Executives earning under $20,000 a month agreed to take a ten per cent salary cut starting July 1, sources confirmed yesterday. Those making $20,000 and over a month agreed to a 15 per cent wage cut. The managers had previously taken a five per cent salary cut last September when the airline struggled to stay financially afloat. The Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association (Talpa) yesterday expressed support for the government's decision to assist BWIA in recovering from its financial difficulties. Chairman Capt Rory Lewes recounted that Talpa contributed to employee savings through salary and work-rule concessions. He said they needed to meet with the government, the new management and advisors to discuss strategies for further cost reduction and revenue generation. And the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc), the umbrella organisation for trade unions is contending that the government's call on BWIA to reduce costs through employee wage cuts is illegal because under the current collective agreement, no amendments to cuts wages can be lawfully obtained while the collective agreement is still in effect. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Mas Site: www.tntisland.com/tntrecords/mas2003/ Site of the Week: http://www.natalielaughlin.com/ TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************