Hi all,
An SQ pilot friend sent this ,see below, with the comment that " the political heat and pressure is now levelled at the pilot community. The airline has now lost some 10 senior pilots,who have resigned ".
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http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sto...21800,00.html?
NOV 25, 2003
NTUC chief weighs in to criticise pilots
By Rebecca Lee
TRANSPORT REPORTER
NTUC chief Lim Boon Heng yesterday slammed Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilots for stirring unrest that could jeopardise the airline's chances of hitting a profit target of $600 million.
A failure to reach this full-year profit level would mean that all 28,717 SIA employees will not receive a lump-sum payment equal to their wage cuts of between 5 and 16.5 per cent.
Neither will they get an additional 15 per cent payment that was promised as part of the deal SIA struck with its unions to stem losses from the Sars outbreak and the war in Iraq.
'The hopes of the other employees of SIA for a $600 million profit is now put at risk. Is that fair?' Mr Lim questioned.
He recounted how the four NTUC-affiliated unions and the Air Line Pilots Association of Singapore (Alpa-S) had bargained hard on behalf of their members. In the case of Alpa-S, its leaders went back to their members to get their endorsement for the deal.
'So it comes as a surprise that the pilots, who had given their support to the wage cuts, with built-in protection should the company do better than expected, now boot out their leaders,' Mr Lim said in an email reply to The Straits Times.
He questioned whether in ousting their leaders in a no-confidence vote last Monday, the pilots were merely exercising their rights.
He added: 'It would be naive to think that they are just looking after their interest. It is like starting a fire in your bedroom, and telling your parents, brothers and sisters that it has no impact on them!'
Mr Lim is the second minister to hit out at SIA pilots after Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen warned that he would not allow the pilots to risk Singapore's position as an air hub or threaten the harmonious industrial relations climate here.
Yesterday, Alpa-S spokesman Captain P. James declined to comment further on the issue.
SIA has taken a hands-off approach to the union's leadership squabble, but added that it will honour the wage deal it has struck with the unions.
Spokesman Innes Willox added that the airline's recovery was still very fragile as 'travel confidence can be quickly buffeted'.
On whether staff retrenched will be re-hired - a move that union leaders such as Singapore Airlines Staff Union general secretary Mohamed Hussain Kassim have been calling for - Mr Willox said they will be 'considered on merit'.