Another minister joins the Pilot Bashing Party...
Transport Minister urges SIA, pilots' union to adopt long term view
03 December 2003 1339 hrs (SST)
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori.../60218/1/.html
SINGAPORE : Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong has called on Singapore Airlines and the pilots' union to adopt a long term view and improve industrial relations.
He urged them to stick together in the face of intense competition that is expected from the entry of budget airlines.
Speaking on the issue for the first time, Mr Yeo said SIA will have to get its act together to improve its rocky labour relations.
But he fell short of saying exactly what the government expects the SIA management to do.
Asked if SIA should be doing more, Mr Yeo only said he has confidence in the company's management.
"We all have to face the future together because we are in it together. And the pilots, even more so. I think we have to adopt a long view and realise that if we don't work together, it may get some short term gains, but over the longer term...they are all going to lose out.
"So it is in their individual interest to ensure that SIA remain strong. And it is also in the interest of the SIA management themselves to work closely with all the staff, whether it's the pilots or cabin crew to make sure that the morale is high, the company is cohesive and everybody is doing their best to ensure passengers remain loyal to SIA and will remain flying with SIA regardless of whether there's a budget airline around," Mr Yeo added.
On the election of a new executive committee for the Airline Pilots Association, Mr Yeo said
new members should act calmly and rationally in the interest of SIA and Singapore as a whole.
Mr Yeo was speaking to the media after giving out this year's National Courtesy Award for the transport sector. - NewsRadio 93.8