Above: a LIAT plane in Antigua

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Caribbean air carrier LIAT remains “committed” to working with all 10 trade unions representing its employees, CEO Captain Ian Brunton said in a statement Tuesday.

Late last month, Brunson participated in his first meeting of the Regional Consultative Council of Trade Unions within the LIAT System since taking over as CEO in August.

At that meeting, which was held in Antigua, Brunson updated union leaders, led by Chairman Senator Chester Humphrey of Grenada, on the company’s current challenges, and the ways LIAT is working to chart the way forward in a bid to turn around the company.

He also addressed recent media reports which had attributed statements to him “portraying LIAT trade unions in a negative light,” and reportedly indicated that “this was not his intention,” according to the company.

Brunton said that, as a former trade union leader, he knew the “important roles which unions play and that they may sometimes have to aggressively get their message across for the benefit of their members.”

Trade actions have led to a number of flight cancellations for the company this year.