Late start adds to airport delays

Wednesday 4th February 2009, 2:29PM GMT.

AIR travellers faced further delays yesterday as the airport did not open until 11am.

Some were happy with the way they were dealt with by the airlines, but others were less complimentary.

A group of friends from Southampton had been in Guernsey for a short break.

They had intended to fly home on Sunday, but they were delayed when Flybe’s flights were grounded and then by snow.

‘We phoned up Flybe all the time, but they just fobbed us off,’ said workman Chris Irving, 23. ‘We just want to get home, but it is out of our hands.’

Another member of the group, Melanie Christ, was particularly keen to return home to her son, who is in a hospice in the UK.

‘Luckily the hospice has managed to take him on for a few more days,’ said the 24-year-old. ‘But I am really missing him and he is missing me. He needs 24/7 care.’

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1
Don

February 4, 2009 at 4:49 pm

If these fire people hold the Island to ransom.I suggest that they all be terminated and re apply for their positions.In the mean time have Guernsey request the UK for help may be have the military in for the Training period.I am sure there are many people on the Island both men and women who would be glad to have a good job and support Guernsey .

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2
Merlin

February 5, 2009 at 7:54 pm

If that is true then why are the fire service having so many problems recruiting and retaining staff. This is why they do not have enough staff to cover all shifts – NO ONE IS APPLYING FOR THE VACANCIES!

As for bringing the military in do you not think they have enough on their hands – the military are also understaffed and under-resourced.

Get real! This island is becoming divided by the haves and the have nots. The public sector, particularly the junior staff, are becoming the have nots with lower salaries, no bonuses, no healthcare, nothing to entice them into the public sector. Those who have worked for the majority of their working lives will not leave as they have their salary to think about = the young ones have not worked long enough to have much to lose salary wise so are making the decision now to leave while they have the chance.

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3
Matt

February 6, 2009 at 12:34 pm

Don the delays on monday and tuesday were nothing to do with the fire fighters they were due to the weather on monday all people responsible for clearing the runway, taxiways and stands were called into work early to enable the airport to open as soon as possible. I am not an Airport Fireman but i am an airport worker and i have to agree with the fireman on this one im afraid they are under paid for what they are trained to do which is why they cannot get any staff, im sure must people would agree that if you were expected to be on standby every time you had a day off just in case someone went sick you would soon get cheesed off with it.

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4
Merlin

February 7, 2009 at 10:05 pm

i used to work at the hospital and staff there were, and probably still are. paid to be on-call i.e. those that take x-rays, test bloods, electricians, plumbers etc – any department which is usually only working Monday to Friday. Also the managers were paid on-call pay – even though they were never called in to my knowledge – maybe a telephone call one a year! You cannot have one rule for one set of workers and a different rule for others. Hey, come on, the airport manager is even working on the radio on a Sunday so he has a second job and there are many other workers who have second jobs for one reason or another.

It is different being called in for an occasional emergency but for those workers who are regularly required to be called out then on-call pay is a necessity. The airport firemen remain on-call 24/7 in case of emergency flights or for search and rescue as well as covering for annual leave and sickness on regular shifts.

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