HUNDREDS of Gulf Air staff took part in a sit-in protest yesterday, as the airline staged an awards ceremony for others who helped launch its services to Iraq.

Sixty employees were presented with certificates by chief executive officer Samer Majali, as demonstrators gathered outside the airline's headquarters, near Bahrain International Airport in Muharraq, to demonstrate against their pay and conditions.

Awards were given to workers from several departments, including operations, information technology, sales, marketing, revenue management, technical, security, legal, training, ground services, finance, corporate development, corporate communications and insurance.

"Launching three services to Baghdad, Najaf and Ebril, in less than three months from the moment we were given rights to fly to Iraq, is a significant achievement and one which deserves to be recognised," said Mr Majali.

He later briefed staff about various benefits recently awarded by the airline such as pay scale revisions, introduction of medical insurance for employees and their families, free annual tickets and reduced tickets prices for their family and friends.

Organised by the Gulf Air Trade Union (GATU), which represents 1,400 out of 5,000 members employed by Gulf Air, the sit-in took place during the lunch break and lasted for 50 minutes.

The union, representing all but the airline's upper management and overseas employees, hopes the protest will encourage the airline to back their demands over better timings and fair treatment of staff with regards to salary, recruitment and termination.

GATU chairman Mustafa Al Tooq said officials planned to hold a meeting with the airline's senior management next week with a view to resolving the issues.

However, he warned the union was prepared to take further action if their concerns were not addressed.

"We are looking to speak to Gulf Air and we will approach them with our concerns but we will strike in the near future if things are not resolved," said Mr Al Tooq.

danm@gdn.com.bh