TWENTY-four days have passed since the ATS dispute surfaced, and while the 200-plus suspended workers camped outside its Nadi headquarters, the management says the offer to return to work remains.
In a statement released yesterday, ATS said it remained committed to continuing discussions on rates of pay and any other conditions of work that bothered employees.
“This can only happen in good faith once every striking worker is back at work,” the statement said.
“The ATS chairman’s offer based on the condition of acknowledging the unlawful walkout and or unexplained absence remains open to all striking employees and they will receive a warning letter only upon their return.
“Employees have returned and management urge those employees on strike to take advantage of this offer and to call the company, private message the company through the Facebook page Air Terminal Services Fiji Ltd and email on backtowork@ats.com.fj to find out how they can return.”
In the same statement, ATS stated another two employees had returned to work, taking the number that have returned to 29.
ATS said those who did not show up for rostered shift in support of those who were initially stood down have been marked absent without leave.
“It is unfortunate that the union national secretary and others acted unlawfully by calling employees to walk off the job and not show up for their rostered shifts in support of those who were initially stood down.
“As a result, employees have been absent without leave. All workers who have either walked out or failed to appear have been stood down.”
ATS maintains the workers were suspended because they walked off their jobs at a crucial time for the company.
“ATS employees, who were also ATS Employees Trust (ATSET) beneficiaries and union members, walked off their jobs on Saturday 16 December around 1pm to attend a purported ATSET meeting.
“When the said employees returned to work, after abandoning their work stations at the time that it was most critical for our service delivery, they were advised that they had been stood down or suspended as their actions tantamounted to gross misconduct.”
ATS said the company was unaware of the meeting nor was there any notice given.
“There was also no agenda published, which should accompany the meeting notice, and there was no approval sought by the Trust for either the ATSET Trustees, who were also employees, to have time off with pay to attend the meeting as required under the ATS/FASA agreement.
“As per the agreement, beneficiary meetings held in the past which have followed the proper rules have always been supported and facilitated by management.”
The Federated Airlines Staff Association and the Air Terminal Services Employees Trust maintains the meeting and the lockout were two separate issues.
FASA national secretary Vilikesa Naulumatua earlier told this newspaper the meeting was for beneficiaries who were concerned with the way the company was being managed and non payment of COLA for 11 years.
