GAIA bosses reject NUPW wage talks inaction claim

Nearly two days after workers staged a protest over stalled wage negotiations, Grantley Adams International Airport Inc. (GAIA) has pushed back against claims by the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) that management has been unresponsive.

In a statement to Barbados TODAY on Thursday, GAIA spokesperson Sharleen Browne-Jones rejected suggestions that the airport authority had ignored repeated attempts by the union to meet.

“That assertion is incorrect,” Browne-Jones said, noting that there had been “a record of communication” between GAIA Inc. and the NUPW on February 10, April 2, April 7, April 14 and May 8.

She said both sides had experienced scheduling conflicts while trying to arrange talks.

“At different points, availability constraints arose on both sides, including instances when NUPW representatives were unavailable and other instances when GAIA Inc. was unavailable,” Browne-Jones said. “It is therefore not accurate to suggest that GAIA Inc. has been unresponsive or that it is delaying the process.”

Her comments followed Tuesday’s industrial action at the airport, where workers walked off the job and demonstrated over what union officials described as months of silence from management regarding a wage proposal.

The NUPW, which represents the workers, said it submitted a formal proposal nearly five months ago seeking a 20 per cent wage increase for the 2025–2027 period. According to the union, management has yet to provide a counter-proposal.

NUPW president Kimberly Agard accused GAIA Inc. of failing to meaningfully engage with workers despite repeated requests for talks.

“The NUPW would have put a position to the management of GAIA Inc. since last year December, and to this date, no response has been given,” Agard said at the protest.

She maintained that the union had “continuously reached out to management” in an effort to return to the bargaining table, adding that workers had grown increasingly frustrated.

“The members are frustrated. They work hard, they deserve better,” she said.

In Thursday’s statement, Browne-Jones insisted that discussions remained ongoing and said management was committed to resolving the issue through dialogue.

“The management of GAIA Inc. remains in communication with NUPW. A meeting in June has already been proposed, and GAIA Inc. continues to work toward that date,” she said.

Should an earlier, mutually convenient date become available, management would be prepared to meet sooner, the airport spokesperson added.

“GAIA Inc. values its employees tremendously, respects the role of the union, and remains ready and willing to engage constructively,” Browne-Jones said.

(SB)