Dispute ends as SIA pilots agree to compromise deal
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Dispute ends as SIA pilots agree to compromise deal
EGM sees nearly 70 per cent of pilots voting in favour of MOM-brokered deal over allocation of seats for their breaks
Singapore Straits Times
9/18/2002
THE dispute between Singapore Airlines and its pilots ended yesterday with close to seven in 10 pilots voting in favour of a compromise deal brokered by the Manpower Ministry.
It came after a tense three-hour debate at an extraordinary general meeting of the Air Line Pilots Association Singapore (Alpa-S) at the Pinetree Town & Country Club.
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Said Captain Frank John, Alpa-S vice-president for industrial relations: 'It was very emotionally charged; a lot of people were upset about the company violating the collective agreement.'
About 200 pilots attended yesterday's meeting with another 700 or so proxy votes cast.
Although some pilots had earlier viewed the deal as a sell-out, the majority of the 910 votes cast were in favour of the compromise deal.
Captain John said that the 68-per-cent majority showed that the pilots still had confidence in the Alpa-S executive committee to help improve their working conditions.
He added: 'While it is difficult for the man in the street to understand, we had to take a difficult decision and we had to convince our members it was right.'
Under the compromise deal, one business-class seat will be set aside for pilots, and if they have to sit in economy, they will get a $200 cash compensation. Pilots will also be given priority to upgrade to business class, ahead of passengers and staff. If business class is full, they may occupy an empty first-class seat.
Yesterday's vote brings to an end a saga that began more than five months ago.
Pilots got upset after they were asked to take their meal and rest breaks in economy instead of business-class seats, as they have been doing for 13 years, because fewer business-class seats are now available, following the introduction of the bigger SpaceBeds.
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.
But the MOM stepped in and brokered a compromise deal last month.
Captain John said that while SIA's 1,600 pilots would not stand for another breach of the agreement, they were willing to move on from here, and try and forge better relations with SIA.
He added: 'The healing process needs to begin. Management and pilots must learn to trust each other again.'