FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert has approved a four per cent salary increase for Caribbean Airlines pilots.
This raise addresses two collective bargaining periods: September 2015 to August 2020 and September 2020 to August 2023, Imbert said in a statement on Wednesday.
The decision follows prolonged negotiations between Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and T&T Airline Pilots’ Association (TTALPA) including a recent silent protest by pilots outside Imbert’s Port-of-Spain office. Despite air transport being an essential service, pilots have expressed dissatisfaction with their compensation.
Minister Imbert said the government was dedicated to fair and reasonable agreements, considering the country’s economic challenges and CAL’s financial status.
He highlighted the substantial financial support provided to CAL by the Ministry of Finance, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with billions allocated in recent years.
Imbert pointed out that CAL’s pilot salaries are competitive, with significant allowances and per diem rates, making them some of the highest-earning professionals in the region. The starting annual salary for pilots is $273,819 ($22,818 per month), with senior pilots earning up to $1,137,123 (94,760 per month).
Despite these figures, TTALPA trustee Keith Dowdy noted that pilots operating under an expired nine-year agreement are willing to accept the four percent increase, similar to offers made to public servants. The union had previously rejected a 7.5 percent wage increase.
TTALPA expressed gratitude for the minister’s intervention and plans to consult with its members on the new offer. The pilots’ protests began earlier this month with a demonstration at Piarco International Airport.
