A group of disgruntled firefighters bound together and staged a strike last weekend to demand their voices be heard regarding a salary increase disparity.
Sources say that the firefighters asked for an across-the-board increase, but when it was given, it was shockingly inequal.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) announced that it has and continues to prioritize improving work conditions and salaries/wages at the TCIAA. They said that the workers did not give the TCIAA sufficient notice of their intention to strike and in response to a recent announcement by the TCIAA to its staff that it was immediately introducing a phased salary increase to all staff.
The Airports Authority also said that the initial 15% increase to the fire service was a first step in a two-step process leading to the introduction of a salary grading scale. The TCIAA mentioned that they proposed in their 2022/23 budget to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, a reserved sum to meet the demands of the salary increase.
The TCIAA said that they will continue to work with its Team Members, including the Fire Service, to adequately address the salary concerns and any other issues affecting their work environment.
The Airports Authority mentioned that construction of a new Fire Hall and Air Traffic Control Tower is underway. Another effort, they said, which is being taken to improve work conditions at the TCIAA. They have expressed hope that the anticipated redevelopment of the Providenciales International Airport would address several other workplace issues.
Deputy Leader of the People’s Democratic Movement, Honorable Robert Been, said that the recent news regarding cancelled or postponed flights due to the disgruntled workers is saddening. He said that these flights are the bread and butter of the islands and must not be taken lightly.
Hon. Been said that respect and proper communication are the means to avoiding public conflict such as this as it appears that the 15% increase was not equal across the board. He added that mutual agreements between the parties involved could have been settled long before public travelling and airline partners were so unfairly inconvenienced, and the aviation reputation of the Turks and Caicos Islands was compromised once again.
Hon. Been called upon the current administration to visit the various departments to find out issues, challenges, and concerns to properly take care of the people.
