Operations within the country's civil aviation industry could be affected as unionised technicians at Aeronautical Telecommunications Limited (AEROTEL) commenced industrial action on Wednesday morning.
The employees, who are represented by the National Workers Union (NWU) are on work-to-rule to protest the slow pace of wage negotiations.
"From 2009, there has not been a collective labour agreement signed between the union and the management so that the staff can benefit," said NWU Island Supervisor Khurt Fletcher, who pleaded, "all we're asking is that they be brought up to parity with the industry."
He said a report done by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which was commissioned by the government, showed that the workers were "woefully underpaid". The managment, he said, had also indicated, following the report, that they could afford to pay the workers more, however, to date, a further reponse has not been forthcoming.
Mr. Fletcher said the workers are prepared to continue the protest until an agreement is reached.
"As long as there is inaction, the workers will continue to intensify their actions until we have an amicable solution to the dispute," he declared.
According to Mr. Fletcher, the union is also yet to receive a response from the government regarding the recently completed salary review for a final decision to be made on the recommendation of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Labour has since intervened in the dispute.
In a statement late Wednesday afternoon, the ministry said the management of AEROTEL and the NWU have been summoned to an emergency conciliation meeting that should take place on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock.
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