sq111
19th Nov 2003, 08:03
November 19, 2003
No confidence
SIA pilots, unhappy with pay-cut deal, oust union leaders
By Chua Kong Ho
SINGAPORE Airlines pilots, unhappy that their union struck a compromise with management in their recent labour dispute instead of resorting to arbitration, have ousted the executive council.
This move was also sparked by other issues, including the retrenchment of pilots.
They passed a vote of no confidence in the 22-member executive council (exco) of the Air Line Pilots Association of Singapore (Alpa-S), which represents some 1,600 SIA pilots.
The council, headed by president Dilip Padbidri, was elected only five months ago, in June, for a three-year term.
Streats understands that the no-confidence motion was carried with a 60-40 majority and fresh elections will be called in the coming weeks to choose new union leadership.
About 100 SIA pilots attended the three-hour EGM at The Pines club in Stevens Road at 6pm on Monday.
Some told Streats that a major reason for the no-confidence motion was the union exco’s decision to accept a compromise package when an earlier decision was made by the members to hold off on wage cuts or unpaid leave until foreign pilots were let go.
The collective decision represented a mandate from the membership that the exco had breached when it decided to settle, the pilots said.
The last-minute deal might have averted a potentially explosive showdown in the Industrial Arbitration Court, but not all members were happy.
The compromise resulted in the pilots taking wage cuts of 16.5 per cent for captains and 11 per cent for first officers, lower than SIA’s initial proposal of 22.5 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.
There was further disquiet among members when management retrenched 26 pilots — a first in SIA’s history — after the wage cuts were instituted.
One ousted council member told Streats that some members may have felt they needed stronger leadership to stand up to management.
"Obviously there are members who feel that... the current council is not strong enough going into the future," he said.
The pilots’ collective agreement is up for renegotiation in March.
Asked whether he thought with hindsight that the exco could have done better, the former exco member said: "What’s the point of asking that? The important thing is to move on."
Morale among SIA’s 1,800 pilots has been severely tested, as evidenced by the increasing number of pilots — including Singaporeans — joining other airlines.
Streats earlier reported that many SIA pilots have applied to fly with Taiwan-based China Airlines, while others have sent resumes to Dubai-based Emirates Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.
The unhappiness must have deepened when SIA posted a stunning turnaround, confounding analysts with a $306 million profit — three times consensus forecast — between July and September.
SIA management also announced it was again recruiting pilots and cabin crew, sparking criticism it had been too hasty in its earlier retrenchment exercise.
Streats understands that many of those ousted will not seek re-election.
In a joint statement to Streats, the members of the former Alpa-S executive council said: "As former members of the executive council, we see today’s EGM as a passing of the baton and wish the new team all the best in pursuing the association’s interests.
"As a democratic union, we respect our members’ wishes to test the capabilities of a new executive council. Like all Alpa-S members, we share the new team’s aspiration that the betterment of our fellow pilots is paramount.
"We hope the new exco will steer the course in the right direction and bring results that will benefit all of us as our fellow pilots’ welfare is paramount."
We stand together and united as pilots.
The union leaders will stay on until a new exco is elected
No confidence
SIA pilots, unhappy with pay-cut deal, oust union leaders
By Chua Kong Ho
SINGAPORE Airlines pilots, unhappy that their union struck a compromise with management in their recent labour dispute instead of resorting to arbitration, have ousted the executive council.
This move was also sparked by other issues, including the retrenchment of pilots.
They passed a vote of no confidence in the 22-member executive council (exco) of the Air Line Pilots Association of Singapore (Alpa-S), which represents some 1,600 SIA pilots.
The council, headed by president Dilip Padbidri, was elected only five months ago, in June, for a three-year term.
Streats understands that the no-confidence motion was carried with a 60-40 majority and fresh elections will be called in the coming weeks to choose new union leadership.
About 100 SIA pilots attended the three-hour EGM at The Pines club in Stevens Road at 6pm on Monday.
Some told Streats that a major reason for the no-confidence motion was the union exco’s decision to accept a compromise package when an earlier decision was made by the members to hold off on wage cuts or unpaid leave until foreign pilots were let go.
The collective decision represented a mandate from the membership that the exco had breached when it decided to settle, the pilots said.
The last-minute deal might have averted a potentially explosive showdown in the Industrial Arbitration Court, but not all members were happy.
The compromise resulted in the pilots taking wage cuts of 16.5 per cent for captains and 11 per cent for first officers, lower than SIA’s initial proposal of 22.5 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.
There was further disquiet among members when management retrenched 26 pilots — a first in SIA’s history — after the wage cuts were instituted.
One ousted council member told Streats that some members may have felt they needed stronger leadership to stand up to management.
"Obviously there are members who feel that... the current council is not strong enough going into the future," he said.
The pilots’ collective agreement is up for renegotiation in March.
Asked whether he thought with hindsight that the exco could have done better, the former exco member said: "What’s the point of asking that? The important thing is to move on."
Morale among SIA’s 1,800 pilots has been severely tested, as evidenced by the increasing number of pilots — including Singaporeans — joining other airlines.
Streats earlier reported that many SIA pilots have applied to fly with Taiwan-based China Airlines, while others have sent resumes to Dubai-based Emirates Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.
The unhappiness must have deepened when SIA posted a stunning turnaround, confounding analysts with a $306 million profit — three times consensus forecast — between July and September.
SIA management also announced it was again recruiting pilots and cabin crew, sparking criticism it had been too hasty in its earlier retrenchment exercise.
Streats understands that many of those ousted will not seek re-election.
In a joint statement to Streats, the members of the former Alpa-S executive council said: "As former members of the executive council, we see today’s EGM as a passing of the baton and wish the new team all the best in pursuing the association’s interests.
"As a democratic union, we respect our members’ wishes to test the capabilities of a new executive council. Like all Alpa-S members, we share the new team’s aspiration that the betterment of our fellow pilots is paramount.
"We hope the new exco will steer the course in the right direction and bring results that will benefit all of us as our fellow pilots’ welfare is paramount."
We stand together and united as pilots.
The union leaders will stay on until a new exco is elected