Air Jamaica cutting 300 workers

NATIONAL Carrier Air Jamaica began laying off 300 workers yesterday in a move to reduce its staff complement by 15 per cent, a union representative told the Observer last night.

But the cuts, which this time spare the airline's flight attendants, affect mostly ground staff and pilots at the two international airports in Kingston and Montego Bay, as well as airline's head office in downtown Kingston, according to president of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), Kavan Gayle.

He said the affected workers will be sent on leave without pay, and after a maximum 120 days will be offered a redundancy payment or re-employment.

Yesterday, Gayle said while the union was able to help save the jobs of the airline's 350 flight attendants, it was unable to do anything for the other categories of workers.

The cut in staff follows a contraction of the airline's routes and fleet as part of its new business model implemented in February to avert a shutdown of the national airline which carries US$1 billion in accumulated debt.

Pilots have been among the most secure profession at the airline, but yesterday Miller was unable to say what the complement was.

Air Jamaica last trimmed 30 staff in February after slashing eight routes, including its Miami, US hub.