As of mar 1, a total of 46 pilots have resigned fromthe company within the period oct 2010 to mar 1 2011.. These pilots are now the workhorse drivers of tiger , airphil and zest airbus fleet. Alarmed by the exodus, the owner and mgmt immediately raised the salary on the 1st week ofmarch by an average of 18% pay rise on the productivity pay translating to an average of add'l U.S. $1300 for airbus captain and $ 900 for airbus fo respectively (figure is before tax), To make the offer more sweeter,and with the record breaking profit year for cebu pacfic, the owner awarded all pilots and employees an additional 2 months bonus (14 and 15th month pay) as part of annual profit sharing bonus on the company's 15th anniversary last mar 8 .
But this incentives comes with a price,in return, the company wants all the pilots to sign and employee-employee agreement before the apr 1 effectivity of pay increase stating therein that you are amenable to a 90 days resignation notice to the company (in contrary to a 30 days period mandated by law)
Still the increase was short of evryone expectations and still way below the salary range being recieved by airphil, sea tiger and zest airbus crew. With the mgmt refusal to show its sincerity in raising the working conditions, improving the pay and its unconditional determination to preserve its pilots, pilots moral is still low and everyone wants to go out if opportunity permits. As such, 5 airbus captains and 5 f/o's have submitted their resignation yesterday to join their former cebpac comrades in tiger sea air. Total count so far as of mar 9 is 56 pilots resignation. We expect more exodus since a total of 30 captains and 20 f/o's passed the air asia interview and due for sim eval in the coming days. We dont know whats the future holds for cebu pac but im petty sure that more flt cancellation and parked aircraftwith no crew to fly.