While the Bahamas Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) insisted its pilots did not report to work for two days in December because they were sick, correspondence obtained by The Nassau Guardian shows that the association asked its international affiliates not to help Bahamasair while its operations were crippled two days before Christmas.
In a December 23 letter to members of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA), the federation's Executive Vice President Captain Fanie Coetzee informed that the IFALPA had been informed by the Bahamas Airline Pilots Association that Bahamasair's management "has not been willing to secure a new collective labor agreement after the previous [agreement] expired on December 31, 2009".
"Since then, no progress has been made in negotiations," Coetzee wrote. "Therefore, BALPA would like to request immediate implementation of the following mutual assistance policies: Request for ban on wet leasing."
He added, "This request is aimed at pressuring management to agree to a new [agreement] negotiated in cooperation with its pilots, and which favors pilots' compensation and avoids the use of wet leasing to the detriment of pilot members of BALPA."
But BALPA President Joseph Moxey denied yesterday that the association tried to sabotage Bahamasair.
Moxey insisted his association does not have the power to prevent air carriers from assisting the national flag carrier.
Minister of Labour Shane Gibson condemned BALPA over its reported efforts to block other carriers from helping Bahamasair during its time of crisis.
The Nassau Guardian spoke to Gibson before it obtained the letter, which he referred to in his interview.
"It's one thing when you withdraw your service," he said.
"It's another thing when you call your international affiliates and you tell them do not supply air carrier services for Bahamasair.
"Now we have proof of that. We have a copy of the emails. They were sent to us where the pilots advised their international affiliates, and then they had to actually write them and get permission from Bahamasair pilots association to begin flying even after the strike was over.
"So even though the managing director of Bahamasair requested Falcon Air to provide service after Bahamasair pilots went back to work, it wasn't until the president of the pilots association wrote to them...that they started to provide service. So that's a serious message. And you have the effect of really crippling the country."

Denial
However, Moxey denied that he or any association member took such action.
"We would not do such a thing," Moxey said.
The Guardian also obtained an email that was reportedly sent by Moxey to Captain Robert Nylund of Falcon Air on December 24 (the day the Bahamasair pilots returned to work).
In the email, which was sent by "Joseph Moxey", the author advised the Falcon Air captain the Bahamasair pilots had returned to work.
"As per our conversation in respect of the captioned, be advised that the executive body has approved Falcon Air to operate fights for Bahamasair today.
"We do confirm that our pilots are back to work; we appreciate your support and help in this regard," said the email, which was written by "the president, Bahamas-ALPA (Moxey)".
Asked about that email, Moxey said he "doesn't know [anything] about that email being transmitted."
"It didn't come from us... I didn't send any email out, so I don't know where he got those from. Why would we sabotage our livelihood?"
On January 5, Falcon Air's CFO Nelson Ramiz Jr. wrote Bahamasair officials.
"Please find below what was sent to our chief pilot, 'authorizing' by virtue of an 'approval' from Bahamas ALPA for Falcon to operate the flights," Ramiz wrote.
"Despite receiving [Bahamasair Managing Director Henry Woods'] letter earlier in the morning, the issue was dragged out until about 2:30 p.m. when we received this so-called 'approval' from Mr. Moxey and BALPA.
"During this time, Robert Nylund was in conversations trying to get clarity on the issue as Mr. Moxey apparently had not acknowledged the letter.
"It makes me a bit ill thinking your passengers were stranded at the airport while this was going on.
"I was not in conversations with Mr. Moxey and chose to allow my chief pilot to deal with them. Trust me, it was in the best interests of your passengers that I stayed in the loop, but off the phone."
Moxey insisted yesterday that the pilots were really sick.
"The fact of the matter is the pilots are stressed out and upset over the fact that we've been in negotiations over a contract," he said.
"On the 22nd we thought that we would have had an agreement. And we didn't. When the pilots found that out, the stress was a burden to them and they weren't comfortable handling an airplane. You do not want people who are not mentally stable at the time to go and sit in an airplane."
He said the decision for pilots not to fly was made in the "best interest of the Bahamian people".
Moxey said he hopes that the government and the association can resolve the issue soon.
Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said recently the government's contract offer is off the table and negotiations would have to start from scratch.
Officials said the sick-out cost the airline over $1 million.
Gibson met with BALPA officials earlier this week.
He said the meeting went well, but added that the government will look at the entire matter and decide how to proceed.

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