Silver Airways Workers Feel Short-Changed

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – When Silver Airways suspended its Caribbean operations last week, workers in The Bahamas were left without jobs, and without full pay.

The airline announced the shutdown via social media in the early hours on June 11th, blaming a bankruptcy restructuring and a failed business transfer.

However, the people who kept the operation running say they’ve been short-changed, and shut out.

A former worker of Silver Airways Employee who asked that we conceal their identity speaks on the situation:

Anonymous – Former Silver Airways Employee

“ We received…the last pay period salary, [but] only a portion of the salary was sent, which was 45%.”

“ As far as vacation balances to be paid out, [and] severance fees, we haven’t received [it], and we are unable to reach anyone from corporate to…advise us as to what is going to happen,” they said.

Workers say the abrupt closure has left them facing immediate financial strain where some can’t pay rent and others have lost access to healthcare.

“ For me, paying the bills of course is going to be difficult because now you have to find another job and…where I’m at, finding a job is not that easy…So hopefully we can get answers from the government, from silver, [or] from someone who’s willing to help us to get our money back,” they said.

This former employee says they and a half a dozen other former co-workers received partial final payments last Friday.

They’re now calling on the government to hold companies foreign accountable.

“ You have to ensure that [when] private entities…come into your country…your citizens are protected. You can’t just allow a…company to come in, not pay NIB contributions, not pay severance packages, and they just pick up and go.

“So why are we allowing these people to come in here and treat…Bahamians like this?,” they said.