Hi folks,
I received this in the evening's mail,giving the latest report on this issue.
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http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sto...22508,00.html?
NOV 29, 2003
Shades of 1980 in pilot-union action
Conspiracy theories abound, with some pilots saying internal politics to blame; finger pointed at former union leaders
By Rebecca Lee
TRANSPORT REPORTER
INTERNAL politics could have been a factor in the wholesale ouster of the Singapore Airlines pilots' union leadership, suggested members of the union.
It was not just that members of the Air Line Pilots' Association-Singapore (Alpa-S) turfed out the entire executive committee for being too 'soft' on SIA's management when they wanted a tougher stance.
Conspiracy theories abound. Five pilots, including two from the ousted committee, say political infighting led to the 22-member committee being voted out at an extraordinary general meeting on Nov 17.
One of the ousted leaders and a former committee member both suggested previous leaders of Alpa-S may have swayed the vote.
There are even some who see the influence of pilots once involved in the SIA Pilots' Association (Siapa), the now defunct pilots' union. Siapa was dissolved by the Government in early 1981 after Australian pilots led a work-to-rule that disrupted several flights in a month, all on high-visibility international routes.
Now, pilots in management positions and others say
Captain Ryan Goh, one of the 22 ousted committee members, helped draft the petition calling for the extraordinary general meeting, although he did not sign it.
Capt Goh is now on holiday in Australia. When contacted by the Straits Times earlier in the week, he said he did not sign the petition, but would not be drawn into saying who had drafted it.
Asked why Alpa-S members initiated the no-confidence motion, he said it was part of the democratic process 'to reconstitute and recharge the team' and was not 'a rebellion or revolt'.
No nominations for the new committee have yet been received, The Straits Times understands. But last-minute nominations are not unusual.
Nominations for president close on Tuesday, and for committee members on Friday.
There are several contenders for president.
Capt Goh has been an Alpa-S member since the start. At one point, he served as vice-president for industrial relations.
Asked if he would run again, he said: 'If my services are required, why not?'
Captain Mok Hin Choon, Alpa-S president from 1999 to 2000, has already told the pilots he intends to run for president again.
There were problems in the leadership during his time at the helm and he quit before his three-year term was up to force elections and get a fresh mandate, but was not re-elected.
Another contender could be
Captain Freddie Koh, one-time president of Siapa and the first president of Alpa-S.
As a one-time assistant director of flight operations, he would have wide influence among the pilots and there had been talk that he could have influenced them to boot out the committee.
The pilots interviewed say Capt Koh commands a lot of respect, especially among the more senior pilots who respect him for the way he fought for them in the early years. He is seen as someone who will stand up for them.
But a senior pilot said that Capt Koh, who had moved to management but is now back piloting Boeing 777 aircraft, sounded neutral when he stood up to ask questions at the EGM.
SIA's pilots have received flak from Acting Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen, Mr Lim Boon Heng, a minister in the Prime Minister's Office, and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Mr Ng has told the pilots he will not allow their 'confrontational' approach to jeopardise harmonious industrial relations here.
Yesterday, a 25-year veteran who served on the committee for nearly 10 years said he felt sorry that the union had been split by this issue.
'I feel they should not be throwing the exco out.
Although it is constitutionally right, it is not right morally,' he said.