PMH, Airport Employees Withdraw Labor

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Operations at several Family Island airports were severely impacted after staff withdrew labour today amid industrial issues. Here on New Providence, Princess Margaret Hospital was forced to suspend morgue services.

Aviation Director Algernon Cargill is slamming illegal strike action after staff at the airports on Bimini, Cat Island and Abaco didn’t show up to work today.

Cargill says he was surprised by the move, which he found out about from a voice note that went viral.

He said domestic flights were the only flights impacted this morning, adding workers were sent to those islands to assist with operations.

Over on Abaco, we understand fewer than 10 employees reported to work at Leonard M Thompson International Airport.

Public Hospitals Authority Managing Director, Catherine Weech confirmed that support staff in multiple departments at Princess Margaret Hospital called in sick.

In a statement, PHA advised that services at the morgue are suspended until further notice. This includes the identification of remains and the collection of remains by funeral homes.

President of the Bahamas Funeral Home Directors Association Kirsch Ferguson said this latest action is making an already hard situation worse.

Last week, the Bahamas Public Services Union threatened to shut down PMH and airports across The Bahamas unless government addresses several issues, including an outstanding industrial agreement.

However, Cargill says they kept their promises.