Hi,
Some more details on the compromise,from this evening's Straits Times.
If indeed the compromise was along those terms that the management had offered earlier, one wonders what point has been made.
Cheers
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With Manpower Ministry's help, both sides agree to compromise over rest seats for pilots, with compensation too
By Dominic Nathan and Ahmad Osman
The Straits Times
SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) and its pilots resolved their dispute over in-flight breaks yesterday, ending the threat of industrial action against the airline.
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The two sides hammered out a compromise at about 9 pm, after a tense 10-hour session yesterday, the sixth round of talks brokered by the Manpower Ministry (MOM) in the last two weeks.
The dispute erupted after the pilots were asked to take their meal and rest breaks in economy- instead of business-class seats, as they have for 13 years, because fewer business-class seats are now available following the introduction of the bigger SpaceBeds.
The Air Line Pilots Association Singapore, or Alpa-S, threatened work-to-rule action that could cause costly delays and flight cancellations, because it felt the airline's demands breached the collective agreement signed last year.
With under two weeks to go before the pilots were to hold a secret ballot on industrial action, MOM's mediation efforts yesterday helped break the months-long deadlock between both sides.
The compromise agreement will see one business-class seat set aside for pilots and if they have to sit in economy, they will receive $200 in compensation.
Pilots will also be given priority to upgrade to business class, ahead of passengers and staff. And if business class is full, they may occupy an empty first-class seat.
These terms differ depending on the length of the flights and the number of cockpit crew on board.
Representing the airline in yesterday's final round of talks were human resource senior vice-president Loh Meng See, senior vice-president for flight operations, Major-General (NS) Raymund Ng and industrial relations vice-president Chew Kai Seng.In the Alpa-S team were association president Dilip Padbidri, industrial relations vice-president Frank John and association treasurer P. James.
Helping to make peace between both sides were three officials from MOM, led by veteran mediator, labour relations director Ong Yen Her.
The talks started at 11 am and ended only at about 9 pm.
Captain John told The Straits Times last night: 'It was a bit tense, as everyone was under pressure to find a compromise.'
He said the sticking point had been the offer of compensation. Instead of cash, Alpa-S had wanted higher upgrade priority for first officers when they flew while on leave.
'We were strongly advised by the ministry to accept the cash component, so we made the concession in the light of the current economic climate and the tough times facing the airline,' Captain John added.
The compromise agreement appears similar to an offer SIA's management made during earlier rounds of stalled negotiations, which Alpa-S had rejected.
Alpa-S will now call an extraordinary general meeting, to be held in about two weeks, when its members, who account for 90 per cent of SIA's 1,600 pilots, will vote to accept the compromise.
They will also vote to dissolve an earlier resolution calling for a secret vote on work-to-rule action.
This will formally end the threat of industrial action against the airline, which last saw such an event 22 years ago.
When contacted, an SIA spokesman said: 'We are pleased that an agreement has been reached.'
However, Captain John was less upbeat. 'We cannot celebrate when there are two pilots out of a job. We will still engage the company to reinstate them,' he said, referring to the pilots of the ill-fated SQ006 whose services SIA had terminated.
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New terms
* One business-class seat to be set aside for pilots; $200 compensation for pilots who have to sit in economy.
* Pilots to be given priority to upgrade to business class, ahead of passengers and staff.
* If business class is full, pilots may occupy an empty first-class seat.
The terms differ depending on whether the flight lasts up to 11 hours or so, with two captains and one first officer on board, or if it stretches to 14 hours, with two captains and two first officers.