aviator_38
20th Nov 2003, 09:08
Hi all,
Received this in the mail:
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,220937,00.html?
NOV 20, 2003
Unhappy SIA pilots ditch union chiefs in special vote
As airline posts profits and starts hiring again, union leaders get the boot for 'giving in' to wage cuts and layoffs
SINGAPORE Airlines pilots have voted out their union leaders.
Although murmurings of unhappiness had been around for a while, it was SIA's announcement last month of its stunning $306-million profit for the second quarter that brought it all to a boil.
Within a week, a growing group of pilots, who blamed the union for giving in too easily to management on wage cuts and retrenchments, had the 50 signatures needed for their petition to oust the union leadership.
After another three weeks of lobbying, 20 office holders, including Air Line Pilots Association of Singapore (Alpa-S) president Dilip Padbidri, were booted out on Monday night.
The no-confidence vote was carried by a 55-45 majority at an extraordinary general meeting at The Pines club in Stevens Road.
About 100 pilots turned up, but more than 1,000 votes were cast earlier when ballot boxes were put up at the airport and the union's office.
Pilots at Monday's two-hour-long session said the discussions were lively, but tempers were kept in check.
Supporters of the union leadership reminded the rest that the wage cuts and no-pay leave they had agreed to were lower than what the company had initially asked for.
SIA, which reported its first ever loss - of $312 million - for the three months from April to June, laid off 596 staff, including 26 pilots, and gave special retirement packages to another 145.
Those spared the axe had to take compulsory unpaid leave and wage cuts of between 5 per cent and 16.5 per cent.
But many pilots at the meeting felt that the union had given in too easily, especially in the light of the turnaround in the next three months and the carrier's decision to start recruiting again.
A pilot who voted against the union chiefs said: 'Next thing we know, SIA announced a stunning $306-million profit. On top of that, they are hiring again. What is all this? We were just taken for a ride.'
Others speculated that the unhappiness over the wage cuts and job losses had also prompted dozens of pilots to leave for other carriers like Taiwan-based China Airlines and Dubai-based Emirates.
When the discussions ended and the votes were counted at about 8.30pm on Monday, the fates of Captain Padbidri and his team were sealed.
It is believed that this is only the second time in the union's 22-year history that a no-confidence vote was passed against the union.
Captain P. James, who occupied the hot seat of vice-president for industrial affairs, said yesterday that he was not bitter or disappointed with the outcome.
'We did the best we could but this is a democratic union and we respect our members' wishes,' he said.
Sources say no similar fallout is expected in the Singapore Airlines Staff Union, which represents cabin crew.
The next step for Alpa-S: fresh elections to put in place a new committee by Christmas.
Outgoing officials played down any possible impact the leadership change might have on next year's negotiations for a new collective agreement.
But pilots interviewed said they would expect the new leadership to take a tougher stand with management.
Asked if any of the ousted Alpa-S officials would consider running for office again, both Captain James and Captain Padbidri said it was time to move on.
Received this in the mail:
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,220937,00.html?
NOV 20, 2003
Unhappy SIA pilots ditch union chiefs in special vote
As airline posts profits and starts hiring again, union leaders get the boot for 'giving in' to wage cuts and layoffs
SINGAPORE Airlines pilots have voted out their union leaders.
Although murmurings of unhappiness had been around for a while, it was SIA's announcement last month of its stunning $306-million profit for the second quarter that brought it all to a boil.
Within a week, a growing group of pilots, who blamed the union for giving in too easily to management on wage cuts and retrenchments, had the 50 signatures needed for their petition to oust the union leadership.
After another three weeks of lobbying, 20 office holders, including Air Line Pilots Association of Singapore (Alpa-S) president Dilip Padbidri, were booted out on Monday night.
The no-confidence vote was carried by a 55-45 majority at an extraordinary general meeting at The Pines club in Stevens Road.
About 100 pilots turned up, but more than 1,000 votes were cast earlier when ballot boxes were put up at the airport and the union's office.
Pilots at Monday's two-hour-long session said the discussions were lively, but tempers were kept in check.
Supporters of the union leadership reminded the rest that the wage cuts and no-pay leave they had agreed to were lower than what the company had initially asked for.
SIA, which reported its first ever loss - of $312 million - for the three months from April to June, laid off 596 staff, including 26 pilots, and gave special retirement packages to another 145.
Those spared the axe had to take compulsory unpaid leave and wage cuts of between 5 per cent and 16.5 per cent.
But many pilots at the meeting felt that the union had given in too easily, especially in the light of the turnaround in the next three months and the carrier's decision to start recruiting again.
A pilot who voted against the union chiefs said: 'Next thing we know, SIA announced a stunning $306-million profit. On top of that, they are hiring again. What is all this? We were just taken for a ride.'
Others speculated that the unhappiness over the wage cuts and job losses had also prompted dozens of pilots to leave for other carriers like Taiwan-based China Airlines and Dubai-based Emirates.
When the discussions ended and the votes were counted at about 8.30pm on Monday, the fates of Captain Padbidri and his team were sealed.
It is believed that this is only the second time in the union's 22-year history that a no-confidence vote was passed against the union.
Captain P. James, who occupied the hot seat of vice-president for industrial affairs, said yesterday that he was not bitter or disappointed with the outcome.
'We did the best we could but this is a democratic union and we respect our members' wishes,' he said.
Sources say no similar fallout is expected in the Singapore Airlines Staff Union, which represents cabin crew.
The next step for Alpa-S: fresh elections to put in place a new committee by Christmas.
Outgoing officials played down any possible impact the leadership change might have on next year's negotiations for a new collective agreement.
But pilots interviewed said they would expect the new leadership to take a tougher stand with management.
Asked if any of the ousted Alpa-S officials would consider running for office again, both Captain James and Captain Padbidri said it was time to move on.