Operations at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) and other ports of entry nationwide could come to a crawl over the holidays if Customs and Immigration officers make good on their threat not to work on Christmas and Boxing Day.The directive to withdraw labor came from the Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU), the bargaining agent for the workers.

Union Executive Vice President Sloane Smith said Customs and Immigration officers are upset that employees who are scheduled to work on Christmas Day will not receive holiday pay.

"We're going to suggest to you that you are not to be forced to work on Sunday or Monday, against the law," Smith told a crowd of about 70 workers who gathered outside the Ministry of Labour yesterday.

"Legally we[are]advised that the government owes us another day or they need to pay the staff who's going to show up on Sunday. We have instructed our members[if]they are not paying you the way they should be paying you and they owe you a day, do not be out there on Sunday [or] Monday.

"That's dock, airport, harbor, Family Islands. . .and we will do the same thing throughout the length and breadth of this country,"he said.

Smith said workers who participated in the demonstration -- which began shortly before 9 a.m. -- were not withdrawing labor yesterday but were simply"going to work late".

When asked how operations at the airport were without the staff scheduled to work at LPIA yesterday morning, Smith said:"Everything is slowed down now. If the staff is here,[there is]nothing going on down there."

WhenThe Nassau Guardianvisited LPIA shortly after noon yesterday, arriving passengers said operations were running smoothly and they had no delays passing through Customs or Immigration sections.

The union is also agitating for Labour Minister Dion Foulkes to sign a strike vote certificate weeks after a strike vote was taken and negotiate their expired industrial agreement.

Until this is done, the BCIAWU will continue to protest all next week.

"We do not need the strike certificate to walk out if we have to. The law is clear. In pursuance of a trade dispute, walking out on the government employer is not seen as a strike because it's in continuance of a trade dispute.

"All we want them to do is honor what they are supposed to do, sign the document, give it to us [and] we'll sit down and talk," Smith said yesterday.

Attempts to reach Labour Minister Dion Foulkes were unsuccessful yesterday.

On Thursday, he told The Nassau Guardian that he was waiting on a report from a recent meeting that involved union executives and officials from the Department of Labour before he will determine whether to sign the document.

The officers have concerns relating to salaries and the shift system that is in place.

BCIAWU members were upset with the shift system implemented by the government in January 2010.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian