VIPA employees waiting for offers from SkyCity with planned transition from gov't pension

A public-private partnership to modernize the territory’s airports is causing anxiety for employees of the V.I. Port Authority, who are waiting to see what the new management company, SkyCity, will offer for employment and retirement packages as they will no longer be eligible for enrollment with the Government Employees Retirement System .

Representatives from the V.I. Port Authority responded to questions about the issue from senators during Wednesday’s hearing of the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance. Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe explained that “if we had it our way, these folks would have remained” with GERS. But because SkyCity is taking over operations, the government’s airport employees will become private workers, and Dowe said they confirmed that the V.I. Code does not allow for employees of a private company to participate in the government’s pension plan.

In response to questions from Sen. Dwayne DeGraff, Dowe said the transition will affect 78 employees, five of whom are nonunion members. Dowe said SkyCity has yet to make offers to those employees, and Committee Chairwoman Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory asked what would happen if the employees rejected the company’s offer. Dowe said employees are not required to accept an offer from SkyCity, and while it’s unknown how many the government might be able to retain, they will try to “provide room for people who don’t want to leave.”