60 workers abandoned their workstations - ATS management

The ATS management has stated that about 60 workers abandoned their workstations without informing their immediate supervisors of their intentions last Saturday.

Acting ATS CEO, Hare Mani says all 60 of them did not bother to arrange someone else to cover for them in their absence.

Mani says their action resulted in disruption to ATS services causing delays to customers’ schedules, including delays to international flight departures.

He says the solidarity shown and quick action taken among the airline industry together with dedicated and law abiding employees of ATS ensured the operations at the airport were maintained with minimum disruptions and delays.

Mani says the union had previously issued a 14 days strike  notice that was meant to take effect on Christmas Day.

He also says that when the employees returned to work, after abandoning their work stations at the time that it was most critical for their service delivery, they were stood down from their work as their actions tantamounted to gross misconduct.

Mani says when the “Stood Down” and “Show Cause” letters were issued to them, the General Secretary for their Union ordered all the said employees not to accept the letters.

He says the employees concerned were Stood Down, meaning they were suspended in accordance with ATS/Federated Airlines Staff Association Agreement and not locked out.

Mani says more than 3 hours after employees had abandoned their work, management received an email from the ATS Employees Trust stating that there was an emergency meeting of the Trust which required the employees to leave their work stations.

ATS has informed ATS Employees Trust that they do not accept their explanations and informed them that the employees concerned would have to answer individually to management.

Mani says since these workers were stood down more workers who were scheduled to start work later have not turned up to work and have joined the picket line outside the ATS compound.

He also says that the management has notified all employees that they have reserved their right pursuant to Section 33 of the Employment Relations Act that their decision to participate in the unlawful strike may result in summary dismissal.

They have also requested the Ministry of Employment to enforce the law.