SQ pilots under political pressure (merged)
On a lighter note-
A Sudanese, an Indian and a Singaporean are asked their opinion of the Nutritional Value of Beef.
The Sudanese asks "What's Nutrition"?
The Indian asks "What's Beef"?
The Singaporean asks "What's an Opinion"?
Good Luck to all the SQ pilots, staying or going.
A Sudanese, an Indian and a Singaporean are asked their opinion of the Nutritional Value of Beef.
The Sudanese asks "What's Nutrition"?
The Indian asks "What's Beef"?
The Singaporean asks "What's an Opinion"?
Good Luck to all the SQ pilots, staying or going.
Last edited by BusyB; 10th Jan 2004 at 21:50.
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millerscourt
The real big loss that everyone seems to have forgotten, is that incurred by the Senior Minister when his ill-fated, joint venture, hi-tech park investment with the Chinese government crashed and burned five or six years back, post them pulling the plug on the "great helmsman's" astute business aspirations. No problems, the compliant Singapore taxpayer picked up the USD 30 billion tab and the whole thing was quietly forgotten (there being no opposition in Singapore!).
The real big loss that everyone seems to have forgotten, is that incurred by the Senior Minister when his ill-fated, joint venture, hi-tech park investment with the Chinese government crashed and burned five or six years back, post them pulling the plug on the "great helmsman's" astute business aspirations. No problems, the compliant Singapore taxpayer picked up the USD 30 billion tab and the whole thing was quietly forgotten (there being no opposition in Singapore!).
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Straits Times, 10 Jan 2004
EDITORIAL
About SIA and Changi
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/com...29397,00.html?
THE good that has come of Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew taking personal charge of the Singapore Airlines (SIA) issue is that he has crystallised the stakes for the nation. Before he began his round of off-the-cuff remarks and interviews - beginning with the startling 'broken heads and broken bones' imagery - no Singaporean market tracker or institution was cognisant of the full extent of the aviation sector's pivotal position. The nation now knows SIA and Changi Airport collectively account for 220,000 jobs, directly and downstream through the web of allied services and supplies provided. Their share of gross domestic product is just under 10 per cent. If the 220,000 figure were extrapolated to the number of households which depend wholly or in part on those workers' steady income, it leaves little to the imagination what sort of social devastation there would be if the twin dynamos gave out. Mr Lee's reckoning is that a quarter to a third of those jobs would be lost if SIA degenerated into a mediocre carrier and Changi lost its hub usefulness. Singapore's current jobless figure is 100,000. The stretched social fabric would tear, were the job situation to get any worse.
These numbers tell Singaporeans once again how mercilessly exposed they are for having to live by their wits, always worrying that the few advantages of foresight they have enjoyed for two decades or so will continue to erode as rivals master their brief. But beyond that and beyond Mr Lee's piquant language used, the response of the parties to the tempest (there is not a labour dispute yet, actually) surely has to be to pull in the same direction. This is about Singapore fighting for its way of life, not about who is tougher. The new executive committee of Alpa-S, the SIA pilots union, says it would seek common ground with the management. This newspaper is sure this was spoken in the true spirit of conciliation. But if it was a diplomatic reaction after Mr Lee's rebuke, the union should rethink and take to heart the impact on SIA of labour disruptions. SIA management on its part has to be reminded it cannot operate like a baronial conclave: it ought by now to have shed its state-enterprise aloofness with a collegiality and openness more in keeping with the private sector. There should be engagement with all levels of its workforce - managing their hopes and worries, rewarding them for sacrifice and team effort.
Changi Airport's prospects are more challenged, it would seem. The advent of ultra long-haul jets can make Changi less of a hubbing necessity, but in ways which are not clear yet. The competing claims of Dubai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney (maybe Perth, some day) on the lateral Europe-Asia-Australasia route and regional runs are clearer. Changi has been king. Its weakness being exposed now is that it can be the most efficient and well-appointed airport by far, but that might not be sufficient buffer against new air centres not as ritzy but which are cheaper to use and reduce travel time. Mr Lee has emphasised that cost effectiveness would determine the outcome of the air war. So SIA's and Changi's cost-containment is not quite done - an unhappy prospect that would require masterful handling. What this episode has shown is that the future that SIA and Changi have to face up to is a metaphor for Singapore as a whole. Employers and workers who have thought about little else in these past two years are expected to keep at it. Costs should continue to be watched to preserve jobs, but workers are not to be treated as fodder as a result. Everybody is in this together.
EDITORIAL
About SIA and Changi
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/com...29397,00.html?
THE good that has come of Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew taking personal charge of the Singapore Airlines (SIA) issue is that he has crystallised the stakes for the nation. Before he began his round of off-the-cuff remarks and interviews - beginning with the startling 'broken heads and broken bones' imagery - no Singaporean market tracker or institution was cognisant of the full extent of the aviation sector's pivotal position. The nation now knows SIA and Changi Airport collectively account for 220,000 jobs, directly and downstream through the web of allied services and supplies provided. Their share of gross domestic product is just under 10 per cent. If the 220,000 figure were extrapolated to the number of households which depend wholly or in part on those workers' steady income, it leaves little to the imagination what sort of social devastation there would be if the twin dynamos gave out. Mr Lee's reckoning is that a quarter to a third of those jobs would be lost if SIA degenerated into a mediocre carrier and Changi lost its hub usefulness. Singapore's current jobless figure is 100,000. The stretched social fabric would tear, were the job situation to get any worse.
These numbers tell Singaporeans once again how mercilessly exposed they are for having to live by their wits, always worrying that the few advantages of foresight they have enjoyed for two decades or so will continue to erode as rivals master their brief. But beyond that and beyond Mr Lee's piquant language used, the response of the parties to the tempest (there is not a labour dispute yet, actually) surely has to be to pull in the same direction. This is about Singapore fighting for its way of life, not about who is tougher. The new executive committee of Alpa-S, the SIA pilots union, says it would seek common ground with the management. This newspaper is sure this was spoken in the true spirit of conciliation. But if it was a diplomatic reaction after Mr Lee's rebuke, the union should rethink and take to heart the impact on SIA of labour disruptions. SIA management on its part has to be reminded it cannot operate like a baronial conclave: it ought by now to have shed its state-enterprise aloofness with a collegiality and openness more in keeping with the private sector. There should be engagement with all levels of its workforce - managing their hopes and worries, rewarding them for sacrifice and team effort.
Changi Airport's prospects are more challenged, it would seem. The advent of ultra long-haul jets can make Changi less of a hubbing necessity, but in ways which are not clear yet. The competing claims of Dubai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney (maybe Perth, some day) on the lateral Europe-Asia-Australasia route and regional runs are clearer. Changi has been king. Its weakness being exposed now is that it can be the most efficient and well-appointed airport by far, but that might not be sufficient buffer against new air centres not as ritzy but which are cheaper to use and reduce travel time. Mr Lee has emphasised that cost effectiveness would determine the outcome of the air war. So SIA's and Changi's cost-containment is not quite done - an unhappy prospect that would require masterful handling. What this episode has shown is that the future that SIA and Changi have to face up to is a metaphor for Singapore as a whole. Employers and workers who have thought about little else in these past two years are expected to keep at it. Costs should continue to be watched to preserve jobs, but workers are not to be treated as fodder as a result. Everybody is in this together.
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sia sniffer
Would the Swiss clinic be the one close by the alleged Lichtenstein based anstaldt, of which there have been persistent rumours over many years (so I’m told!)?
millerscourt
Almost forgot. What about the SGD 4 billion “loan” made by the Singapore government (prop. Lee family) to Suharteo, during the ’98 Indonesian crisis, prior to his ousting, the questioning over which, by the redoubtable Dr Chee, on behalf of Singapore taxpayers, during the last “general election”, aroused such ire and indignation in Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong that he sued, in time honoured Singapore fashion, for, wait for it, “defamation”, on the basis that Chee’s question had not been couched in a sufficiently respectful manner? Meanwhile, of course, in the ensuing melee, no answer to the question was the reply and no news yet of the repayment date!
Would the Swiss clinic be the one close by the alleged Lichtenstein based anstaldt, of which there have been persistent rumours over many years (so I’m told!)?
millerscourt
Almost forgot. What about the SGD 4 billion “loan” made by the Singapore government (prop. Lee family) to Suharteo, during the ’98 Indonesian crisis, prior to his ousting, the questioning over which, by the redoubtable Dr Chee, on behalf of Singapore taxpayers, during the last “general election”, aroused such ire and indignation in Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong that he sued, in time honoured Singapore fashion, for, wait for it, “defamation”, on the basis that Chee’s question had not been couched in a sufficiently respectful manner? Meanwhile, of course, in the ensuing melee, no answer to the question was the reply and no news yet of the repayment date!
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Re: Straits Times, 10 Jan 2004
EDITORIAL
About SIA and Changi
If GDP of 10% and a total of 220,000 jobs are at stake, why is Senior Minister Lee acting in such an inflammatory and irresponsible manner? Surely he should be nurturing the situation and persuading all parties of the good sense in pulling together, just as the editorial suggests, rather than stepping in to wilfully wreck an apparently important part of Singapore’s delicate fabric?
There has been mention of the SIA share price and the deleterious effect on this price, of SM’s threat to allow the airline to sink into obscurity as long as Changi Airport and new baby “Tiger” thrive. If this is a threat directed at the SIA pilots, perhaps I could suggest that it is misplaced and born of complete ignorance of the contemporary situation. SM may be interested to know that a very large proportion of ex-pat and local pilots would be quite relaxed in the event that SIA suddenly contracted or even went down, as they would be most happy to see the extinguishing of bonds, the three month payment in lieu of salary plus payment of CPF/Provident Fund entitlement followed shortly afterwards by a swift and deliriously happy move to whichever Asian carrier(s) stepped into the market void and quickly became desperately short of experienced flight crews as a result. So go ahead SM, make our day!
If, however, the idea is to depress (manipulate) share price, prior to someone picking up a big chunk in a share buy-back to re-nationalise the airline, then the cost of this exercises should be pretty low in the near future. As it is, Temasek owns 51% of the shares whilst Singapore banks and institutions own other considerable chunks of the equity (which they don’t trade), the small residue that is traded is of such minor volume that the required liquidity to reflect true share value is never there.
Finally, if SM is unhappy with the six percent return on SIA equity, which he implies is presently under threat from the naughty pilots (again), then maybe he should just close the thing down and be done with it. He’d cut costs at a stroke and have plenty of money to fund something else – pity this would have a disastrous effect on the Singapore economy and political standing but then you’ve got to make sacrifices, haven’t you?
EDITORIAL
About SIA and Changi
If GDP of 10% and a total of 220,000 jobs are at stake, why is Senior Minister Lee acting in such an inflammatory and irresponsible manner? Surely he should be nurturing the situation and persuading all parties of the good sense in pulling together, just as the editorial suggests, rather than stepping in to wilfully wreck an apparently important part of Singapore’s delicate fabric?
There has been mention of the SIA share price and the deleterious effect on this price, of SM’s threat to allow the airline to sink into obscurity as long as Changi Airport and new baby “Tiger” thrive. If this is a threat directed at the SIA pilots, perhaps I could suggest that it is misplaced and born of complete ignorance of the contemporary situation. SM may be interested to know that a very large proportion of ex-pat and local pilots would be quite relaxed in the event that SIA suddenly contracted or even went down, as they would be most happy to see the extinguishing of bonds, the three month payment in lieu of salary plus payment of CPF/Provident Fund entitlement followed shortly afterwards by a swift and deliriously happy move to whichever Asian carrier(s) stepped into the market void and quickly became desperately short of experienced flight crews as a result. So go ahead SM, make our day!
If, however, the idea is to depress (manipulate) share price, prior to someone picking up a big chunk in a share buy-back to re-nationalise the airline, then the cost of this exercises should be pretty low in the near future. As it is, Temasek owns 51% of the shares whilst Singapore banks and institutions own other considerable chunks of the equity (which they don’t trade), the small residue that is traded is of such minor volume that the required liquidity to reflect true share value is never there.
Finally, if SM is unhappy with the six percent return on SIA equity, which he implies is presently under threat from the naughty pilots (again), then maybe he should just close the thing down and be done with it. He’d cut costs at a stroke and have plenty of money to fund something else – pity this would have a disastrous effect on the Singapore economy and political standing but then you’ve got to make sacrifices, haven’t you?
Last edited by highcirrus; 12th Jan 2004 at 21:24.
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Excellent post High Cirrus, just hope someone has the balls to ensure it is read by LKY and his cronies.
Don't forget that in Singapore you may not get the professional and correct closure of SIA you hope for. Rather than pay everyone their dues and close down they will probably engineer bankruptcy, cancel all housing and other agreements, kick all expats off the island without paying repatriation costs and then pay 1cent in the dollar, take it or leave it, see you in court, (in Singapore, of course
).
Don't forget that in Singapore you may not get the professional and correct closure of SIA you hope for. Rather than pay everyone their dues and close down they will probably engineer bankruptcy, cancel all housing and other agreements, kick all expats off the island without paying repatriation costs and then pay 1cent in the dollar, take it or leave it, see you in court, (in Singapore, of course
).
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Straits Times, 17 Jan 2004
AirAsia unlikely to set up shop here
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sin...30478,00.html?
MALAYSIAN budget carrier AirAsia is unlikely to enter into a joint venture to set up an airline based in Singapore.
Its chief executive, Mr Tony Fernandes, said he will decide on the matter next week, but hinted yesterday, when he met reporters here, that it may not happen.
He said the airline, which just launched its Thai-based operations, may be taking on too much too soon if it had a third carrier in Singapore.
AirAsia has been in discussions with companies here, including Temasek Holdings, on the possibility of setting up a joint-venture airline.
Yesterday, Mr Fernandes said that if the Singapore project takes off, Temasek is unlikely to be an investor, although it is keen to have a stake in the airline's Malaysia operations.
He said: 'I don't think that Temasek is necessarily the right vehicle for us here.'
On plans to fly to Singapore, he said the first flight by AirAsia Thailand - a joint venture with Thailand's largest communication company, Shin Corporation - from Bangkok should land at Changi Airport on Feb 13.
The airline has already informed the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) of its intention to operate Thailand-Singapore flights.
It is now waiting for the Thai government's official sanction for the service.
Mr Fernandes said: 'Both sides have talked and the in-principle approval is there.
'What remains is for the paperwork to be sorted out, but I am confident we can meet our planned launch date.'
Asked if the airline is getting any special deals or discounts from the CAAS, he said: 'We are happy with the financial and operational arrangements at Changi.'
In Singapore, AirAsia will compete with Valuair, set up by former Singapore Airlines (SIA) veteran Lim Chin Beng, and Tiger Airways set up by SIA with several partners.
Both are due to take off later this year.
AirAsia unlikely to set up shop here
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sin...30478,00.html?
MALAYSIAN budget carrier AirAsia is unlikely to enter into a joint venture to set up an airline based in Singapore.
Its chief executive, Mr Tony Fernandes, said he will decide on the matter next week, but hinted yesterday, when he met reporters here, that it may not happen.
He said the airline, which just launched its Thai-based operations, may be taking on too much too soon if it had a third carrier in Singapore.
AirAsia has been in discussions with companies here, including Temasek Holdings, on the possibility of setting up a joint-venture airline.
Yesterday, Mr Fernandes said that if the Singapore project takes off, Temasek is unlikely to be an investor, although it is keen to have a stake in the airline's Malaysia operations.
He said: 'I don't think that Temasek is necessarily the right vehicle for us here.'
On plans to fly to Singapore, he said the first flight by AirAsia Thailand - a joint venture with Thailand's largest communication company, Shin Corporation - from Bangkok should land at Changi Airport on Feb 13.
The airline has already informed the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) of its intention to operate Thailand-Singapore flights.
It is now waiting for the Thai government's official sanction for the service.
Mr Fernandes said: 'Both sides have talked and the in-principle approval is there.
'What remains is for the paperwork to be sorted out, but I am confident we can meet our planned launch date.'
Asked if the airline is getting any special deals or discounts from the CAAS, he said: 'We are happy with the financial and operational arrangements at Changi.'
In Singapore, AirAsia will compete with Valuair, set up by former Singapore Airlines (SIA) veteran Lim Chin Beng, and Tiger Airways set up by SIA with several partners.
Both are due to take off later this year.
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Interesting Straits Times piece in light of my speculation of 25 Dec 2003, below:
"Which really leaves AirAsia – now looking like a success for the future and leading those of a Machiavellian disposition to consider that the real game plan may be along the lines of a quietly cut deal by LKY with AirAsia/Malaysian Government (pace that between Thaksin and the Malaysians to form AirAsia Thailand) to form AirAsia Singapore. Leverage to force the deal with AirAsia (a favoured entity of Mahatier) is the competition ostensibly threatened from “Tiger” and Valuair. Sweeteners are oceans of cash from Temasek Holdings and unlimited access to Changi as a hub (thus neatly negating Senai as a hubbing force and providing a future revenue stream from an investment that looks like it will really work). Further advantage is that risk need not be taken by going ahead with “Tiger” and Valuair will be toast (who’d finance it with this situation to deal with?)."
Despite the ritual denials from Fernandes, there looks to be something in the hypothesis. Watch this space!
"Which really leaves AirAsia – now looking like a success for the future and leading those of a Machiavellian disposition to consider that the real game plan may be along the lines of a quietly cut deal by LKY with AirAsia/Malaysian Government (pace that between Thaksin and the Malaysians to form AirAsia Thailand) to form AirAsia Singapore. Leverage to force the deal with AirAsia (a favoured entity of Mahatier) is the competition ostensibly threatened from “Tiger” and Valuair. Sweeteners are oceans of cash from Temasek Holdings and unlimited access to Changi as a hub (thus neatly negating Senai as a hubbing force and providing a future revenue stream from an investment that looks like it will really work). Further advantage is that risk need not be taken by going ahead with “Tiger” and Valuair will be toast (who’d finance it with this situation to deal with?)."
Despite the ritual denials from Fernandes, there looks to be something in the hypothesis. Watch this space!
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Former senior civil servant Ngiam Tong Dow spoke candidly about past policy mistakes (of the PAP Singapore Government) in his speech to the Economic Society of Singapore last week. The Straits Times of 21 Jan 2004 printed an excerpt of this excellent speech by a realistic and obviously intelligent man, un-blinkered by party ideology.
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/com...31194,00.html?
The final paragraphs of this excerpt are as follows:
“So, Singapore with a population of four million cannot play the (steel) numbers game alongside China and India with their billion populations.
But an educated four million population can endure, if we have some of the globally mobile talented, including our own, to be engaged, work, live, and stay in Singapore, perhaps not for a lifetime but in the prime of their lives.
In this way, the nation of Singapore will be larger than the country of Singapore. The little red dot will grow into a centre of world civilisation and not fade away into history.”
Whilst Ngiam Tong Dow referred primarily to graduate “globally mobile talent”, the principle still applies to high caliber, well experienced technical crew who are presently available globally for hire (by SIA).
Is the Senior Minister therefore not in danger of compounding his record of policy mistakes by adopting his present antagonistic stance towards pilots, thus strongly deterring the shortly to be required influx of “globally mobile talent” to SIA?
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/com...31194,00.html?
The final paragraphs of this excerpt are as follows:
“So, Singapore with a population of four million cannot play the (steel) numbers game alongside China and India with their billion populations.
But an educated four million population can endure, if we have some of the globally mobile talented, including our own, to be engaged, work, live, and stay in Singapore, perhaps not for a lifetime but in the prime of their lives.
In this way, the nation of Singapore will be larger than the country of Singapore. The little red dot will grow into a centre of world civilisation and not fade away into history.”
Whilst Ngiam Tong Dow referred primarily to graduate “globally mobile talent”, the principle still applies to high caliber, well experienced technical crew who are presently available globally for hire (by SIA).
Is the Senior Minister therefore not in danger of compounding his record of policy mistakes by adopting his present antagonistic stance towards pilots, thus strongly deterring the shortly to be required influx of “globally mobile talent” to SIA?
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All gone quiet on the Senior Minister/Alpa-S front hasn’t it? Well no need to worry - all is as normal – it’s just that Rebecca Lee of the Straits Times is excluded from the ongoing “talks” that the Senior Minister is concluding personally with the Alpa-S President and Exco members.
We are, of course, left to speculate as to the style of these “talks” but SM’s track record to date would indicate that less than subtle references will be being made to the imminence of exhaustive personal Internal Revenue audits for this by now highly nervous group, trawls through past utterances for possible “defamations”, leading to legal actions designed to personally bankrupt the individuals plus possible investigations of ongoing “competence and merit” to continue in the technical crew job with SIA.
As further “inducement” to compliance with the great man’s vision for the future, the group will, in similarly unsubtle style, be invited to recall SM’s threat of the early eighties when the association leaders faced the decision of themselves and their families being summarily shipped to Changi gaol, or them instantly calling off mild industrial action designed to induce an arrogant and complacent “management” to the negotiating table. Readers are invited to spot any changes that have evolved in Singapore in the intervening years, similar to those wrought worldwide by the historic events of the past two decades.
Similarly, “freedom and democracy lovers” around the world, allied in the “war against terror” are also invited to spot any similarity between their own fair, open, accountable styles of democratic government and that which prevails in "modern day" Singapore.
We are, of course, left to speculate as to the style of these “talks” but SM’s track record to date would indicate that less than subtle references will be being made to the imminence of exhaustive personal Internal Revenue audits for this by now highly nervous group, trawls through past utterances for possible “defamations”, leading to legal actions designed to personally bankrupt the individuals plus possible investigations of ongoing “competence and merit” to continue in the technical crew job with SIA.
As further “inducement” to compliance with the great man’s vision for the future, the group will, in similarly unsubtle style, be invited to recall SM’s threat of the early eighties when the association leaders faced the decision of themselves and their families being summarily shipped to Changi gaol, or them instantly calling off mild industrial action designed to induce an arrogant and complacent “management” to the negotiating table. Readers are invited to spot any changes that have evolved in Singapore in the intervening years, similar to those wrought worldwide by the historic events of the past two decades.
Similarly, “freedom and democracy lovers” around the world, allied in the “war against terror” are also invited to spot any similarity between their own fair, open, accountable styles of democratic government and that which prevails in "modern day" Singapore.
Last edited by Insider107; 25th Jan 2004 at 17:42.
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Extracted from the Singapore Truth ( ST ) Interactive :
In Short
SIA WINS AWARD FOR PASSENGER SERVICES
SINGAPORE Airlines has won aviation magazine Air Transport World's Passenger Service Award for 2004, which recognises high standards of passenger services.
Air Transport World awarded SIA the Best International Service Award in 1994 and named it Airline of the Year in 1989.
SIA yesterday also became the only local company to make the list in a survey of the world's most respected companies, taking sixth place in the transport companies sector, behind firms such as Federal Express and Lufthansa.
Run by the Financial Times, the survey draws on the views of more than 1,000 heads of companies in 20 countries.
The world's 10 most respected companies, in order of ranking, are: General Electric, Microsoft, Toyota, IBM, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Dell, Berkshire Hathaway, DaimlerChrysler and Sony.
End of transcript.
But WE must all still heed the competition !! It really is tough at the top. Somehow though I believe the comparisons will end there - and of course there is no mention of the STAFF in the report. It would also be interesting to see how staff salaries and conditions of service / benefits stand up to the other companies in the transport sector. - but then that is a no brainer ........ right.
Well done to all the front line staff in SQ for their hard effort - the credit is yours !!
In Short
SIA WINS AWARD FOR PASSENGER SERVICES
SINGAPORE Airlines has won aviation magazine Air Transport World's Passenger Service Award for 2004, which recognises high standards of passenger services.
Air Transport World awarded SIA the Best International Service Award in 1994 and named it Airline of the Year in 1989.
SIA yesterday also became the only local company to make the list in a survey of the world's most respected companies, taking sixth place in the transport companies sector, behind firms such as Federal Express and Lufthansa.
Run by the Financial Times, the survey draws on the views of more than 1,000 heads of companies in 20 countries.
The world's 10 most respected companies, in order of ranking, are: General Electric, Microsoft, Toyota, IBM, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Dell, Berkshire Hathaway, DaimlerChrysler and Sony.
End of transcript.
But WE must all still heed the competition !! It really is tough at the top. Somehow though I believe the comparisons will end there - and of course there is no mention of the STAFF in the report. It would also be interesting to see how staff salaries and conditions of service / benefits stand up to the other companies in the transport sector. - but then that is a no brainer ........ right.
Well done to all the front line staff in SQ for their hard effort - the credit is yours !!
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Straits Times - 29 Jan 2004
SilkAir pilots strike salary deal
Under first collective agreement, minimum basic pay will be about $7,050, almost the same as before last July's pay cuts
By Karamjit Kaur
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sin...32276,00.html?
SILKAIR pilots have struck a deal with the airline's top brass over salaries and working conditions.
Under the new collective agreement - a first for SilkAir - pilots will earn almost as much as they did before last July when wages were cut by up to 16.5 per cent.
A SilkAir captain now earns a minimum basic pay of about $5,900 a month, compared to about $7,100 before the cut.
Come April 1, when the new agreement should take effect, the minimum basic pay will be about $7,050.
With the new wage structure, about 35 per cent of the total pay packet will be variable compared to 30 per cent before.
When contacted, recently appointed SilkAir chief executive officer Mike Barclay said it was a 'little premature to discuss the details' because the document has not been officially signed yet.
Captain Ajmer Singh, 38, chairman of the SilkAir wing of the Air Line Pilots' Association Singapore (Alpa-S) said: 'We are satisfied with the terms and conditions agreed on. Pilots will see an increase in pay which is competitive with what other airlines in the region offer.'
The three-year deal is as good as sealed and should become official soon, given that all 35 eligible pilots voted in favour of it on Dec 30.
Although there are about 70 SilkAir pilots, only Singapore citizens and permanent residents in the union are allowed to vote.
Unlike many other unions, Alpa-S has to seek the endorsement of its members before it can make any decisions.
This will change when the Government amends the Trade Union Act to remove union members' rights to have the final say in any negotiations with management.
The Government move comes after unhappy Alpa-S members voted out the union leadership that agreed to the wage cuts.
Fresh elections were called last month and the new team voted in has made good relations with management a top priority.
This is the first time SilkAir has signed a collective agreement with its pilots - a document which will be filed with the Ministry of Manpower and the High Court.
Previously, terms and conditions of employment for SilkAir pilots were stipulated in a memorandum of agreement between the two sides.
For anything not covered in the agreement, the parties referred to the collective agreement between Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilots and their management.
Now negotiations in SilkAir are out of the way, all eyes are on SIA which is also in the process of working out a new collective agreement for its pilots.
SilkAir pilots strike salary deal
Under first collective agreement, minimum basic pay will be about $7,050, almost the same as before last July's pay cuts
By Karamjit Kaur
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sin...32276,00.html?
SILKAIR pilots have struck a deal with the airline's top brass over salaries and working conditions.
Under the new collective agreement - a first for SilkAir - pilots will earn almost as much as they did before last July when wages were cut by up to 16.5 per cent.
A SilkAir captain now earns a minimum basic pay of about $5,900 a month, compared to about $7,100 before the cut.
Come April 1, when the new agreement should take effect, the minimum basic pay will be about $7,050.
With the new wage structure, about 35 per cent of the total pay packet will be variable compared to 30 per cent before.
When contacted, recently appointed SilkAir chief executive officer Mike Barclay said it was a 'little premature to discuss the details' because the document has not been officially signed yet.
Captain Ajmer Singh, 38, chairman of the SilkAir wing of the Air Line Pilots' Association Singapore (Alpa-S) said: 'We are satisfied with the terms and conditions agreed on. Pilots will see an increase in pay which is competitive with what other airlines in the region offer.'
The three-year deal is as good as sealed and should become official soon, given that all 35 eligible pilots voted in favour of it on Dec 30.
Although there are about 70 SilkAir pilots, only Singapore citizens and permanent residents in the union are allowed to vote.
Unlike many other unions, Alpa-S has to seek the endorsement of its members before it can make any decisions.
This will change when the Government amends the Trade Union Act to remove union members' rights to have the final say in any negotiations with management.
The Government move comes after unhappy Alpa-S members voted out the union leadership that agreed to the wage cuts.
Fresh elections were called last month and the new team voted in has made good relations with management a top priority.
This is the first time SilkAir has signed a collective agreement with its pilots - a document which will be filed with the Ministry of Manpower and the High Court.
Previously, terms and conditions of employment for SilkAir pilots were stipulated in a memorandum of agreement between the two sides.
For anything not covered in the agreement, the parties referred to the collective agreement between Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilots and their management.
Now negotiations in SilkAir are out of the way, all eyes are on SIA which is also in the process of working out a new collective agreement for its pilots.
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If as you say the Silk Air Salary is $S 7050 per month then even
with the 13th month and Productivy Pay added on there is no way a Silk Air Captain will be on a Salary of $150000 before tax as SQ woulh have you believe according to their adveretisdement bin Flight Internationaql this week!!!
Apologies for the bad spelling on last post but message got sent in error before I had time to proof read it!!
with the 13th month and Productivy Pay added on there is no way a Silk Air Captain will be on a Salary of $150000 before tax as SQ woulh have you believe according to their adveretisdement bin Flight Internationaql this week!!!
Apologies for the bad spelling on last post but message got sent in error before I had time to proof read it!!
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for those not familiar with the exchange rate:
$2.95 sin = £ 1.00 stg/gbp
$1.71 sin = $ 1.00 usd
13 mth basic gross before tax = £31,100 stg
= $53,600 usd
doesnt sound very much if you pay 20-25% tax on that.
what would be monthly flt allowances?
$2.95 sin = £ 1.00 stg/gbp
$1.71 sin = $ 1.00 usd
13 mth basic gross before tax = £31,100 stg
= $53,600 usd
doesnt sound very much if you pay 20-25% tax on that.
what would be monthly flt allowances?
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Straits Times – 31 Jan 2004
One year to move on variable pay
Setting do-able targets for big and small firms, DPM Lee says employers now have all the help they need to effect change
By Sue-Ann Chia
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/top...32677,00.html?
ENOUGH of talk. After almost 20 years, it's now time to push the pace and get on with the business of implementing wage reform in earnest.
And Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday set targets he expects to see met by this time next year.
He hopes that over 50 per cent of the total workforce in large companies and 40 per cent in small and medium enterprises will have some kind of flexible wage system in place.
This was achievable, he said at a national conference on wage reform, noting that leading companies in four key sectors - hotels, electronics, chemicals and land transport - had started to do so and were confident of implementation by then………………………..
………………….With the rapid changes in technology, emergence of new players such as China and India, and the impact of globalisation, companies can survive and save jobs only if their wage structures are flexible enough to withstand sudden shocks and downturns.
But he pointed out that the Government would not 'pass a law or publish a formula which applies to every company' as each company was unique.
Instead, bosses should be persuaded to drive the wage reform process and set up a transparent appraisal system and performance indicators - something that was not exactly 'rocket science', he told them.
And workers must accept the new reality that 'iron rice bowls are gone forever' and that pay packets will fluctuate according to performance and company profits……………….
…………………… suggested moving away from a rigid and seniority-based wage system to a more flexible structure by linking a greater portion of pay packets to performance and profits.
And lastly, the labour movement is also spearheading the wage reform process - something that is almost unheard of in other countries where unions would be among the first to resist wage changes.
Comment
Readers eagerly await details of matching public sector wage restructuring in Singapore and in particular the exciting and innovative ideas that are no doubt in the wings and which will shortly redefine the present stuffy old rigid and seniority-based wage structure of member of parliament (MP) and ministerial pay and introduce a flexible wage system that will reflect the performance and profit of the country in good times and bad.
As we know - “With the rapid changes in technology, emergence of new players such as China and India, and the impact of globalisation, companies can survive and save jobs only if their wage structures are flexible enough to withstand sudden shocks and downturns.”
This dictum applies equally to the survival of countries as well as the companies which operate within their borders. So perhaps by next year we may see MP and ministerial pay tied to annual percentage GDP growth, ST index performance and relative strength of the currency using a “transparent appraisal system and performance indicators” which includes open details of annual ministerial earnings? This would seem to be a logical progression for reform and should be easy to set up as there is no 'rocket science' involved.
Finally – “the labour movement is also spearheading the wage reform process - something that is almost unheard of in other countries where unions would be among the first to resist wage changes.” Well precisely so! I don’t think even a re-read of “Alice in Wonderland” would find anything more bizarre
One year to move on variable pay
Setting do-able targets for big and small firms, DPM Lee says employers now have all the help they need to effect change
By Sue-Ann Chia
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/top...32677,00.html?
ENOUGH of talk. After almost 20 years, it's now time to push the pace and get on with the business of implementing wage reform in earnest.
And Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday set targets he expects to see met by this time next year.
He hopes that over 50 per cent of the total workforce in large companies and 40 per cent in small and medium enterprises will have some kind of flexible wage system in place.
This was achievable, he said at a national conference on wage reform, noting that leading companies in four key sectors - hotels, electronics, chemicals and land transport - had started to do so and were confident of implementation by then………………………..
………………….With the rapid changes in technology, emergence of new players such as China and India, and the impact of globalisation, companies can survive and save jobs only if their wage structures are flexible enough to withstand sudden shocks and downturns.
But he pointed out that the Government would not 'pass a law or publish a formula which applies to every company' as each company was unique.
Instead, bosses should be persuaded to drive the wage reform process and set up a transparent appraisal system and performance indicators - something that was not exactly 'rocket science', he told them.
And workers must accept the new reality that 'iron rice bowls are gone forever' and that pay packets will fluctuate according to performance and company profits……………….
…………………… suggested moving away from a rigid and seniority-based wage system to a more flexible structure by linking a greater portion of pay packets to performance and profits.
And lastly, the labour movement is also spearheading the wage reform process - something that is almost unheard of in other countries where unions would be among the first to resist wage changes.
Comment
Readers eagerly await details of matching public sector wage restructuring in Singapore and in particular the exciting and innovative ideas that are no doubt in the wings and which will shortly redefine the present stuffy old rigid and seniority-based wage structure of member of parliament (MP) and ministerial pay and introduce a flexible wage system that will reflect the performance and profit of the country in good times and bad.
As we know - “With the rapid changes in technology, emergence of new players such as China and India, and the impact of globalisation, companies can survive and save jobs only if their wage structures are flexible enough to withstand sudden shocks and downturns.”
This dictum applies equally to the survival of countries as well as the companies which operate within their borders. So perhaps by next year we may see MP and ministerial pay tied to annual percentage GDP growth, ST index performance and relative strength of the currency using a “transparent appraisal system and performance indicators” which includes open details of annual ministerial earnings? This would seem to be a logical progression for reform and should be easy to set up as there is no 'rocket science' involved.
Finally – “the labour movement is also spearheading the wage reform process - something that is almost unheard of in other countries where unions would be among the first to resist wage changes.” Well precisely so! I don’t think even a re-read of “Alice in Wonderland” would find anything more bizarre
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time for a reality check
heard from sources that about 5 senior guys have done a 180 deg in their CAL interview/acceptance/resignation from SQ!!
can anybody confirm?
is this a trend?
can anybody confirm?
is this a trend?
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Straits Times, 23.02.04
Air travel in Asia set for major take-off
And countries whose governments expose their national airlines to competition will triumph, says SM Lee
By Rebecca Lee
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/top...36554,00.html?
AIR travel in Asia will soon take off on a massive scale and yesterday Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew spelt out how he saw the aviation scene changing - and who will triumph.
They will be those countries whose governments liberally exchange air traffic rights and expose their national airlines to competition.
SM Lee, who has kept a long and close interest in the aviation industry, was speaking at an industry event attended by 150 captains of the business.
And just what can Singapore do?
His answer, in a nutshell, was that it could not afford to sit idly and both Changi Airport and Singapore Airlines (SIA) must adapt quickly to the changing landscape.
'At stake is not just SIA, but Singapore's future as an air hub,' he said, speaking at the opening of the International Air Transport Association (Iata)/Asian Aerospace Aviation Summit.
Mr Lee's comments come against the backdrop of an industry that has undergone tumultuous changes in the past few years with traditional carriers having to compete with upstart low-cost airlines, and the resulting consolidation.
SM Lee noted that competition for Singapore will be in quality of service, adequacy of networks in terms of frequencies and destinations offered.
'Changi must maintain and strengthen its connectivity,' he said.
SIA will have to meet competition from low-cost carriers as well as the traditional full-service airlines that have remade themselves, he said.
The proliferation of low-cost carriers in America and Europe - and now starting in Asia - has made travelling by air as common as taking a bus. Today, about 45 per cent of the more than 700 million international tourists and 40 per cent of the world's manufactured exports travel by air. Civil aviation also created at least six million jobs worldwide, Mr Lee noted.
In Singapore, aviation had also been key in developing the country into a global economic hub and cosmopolitan city, he said.
Iata director-general Giovanni Bisignani last night also highlighted the important role aviation played as a 'backbone to the tourist industry' and 'the No. 1 employer in the world', even though airlines lost more than US$30 billion (S$50 billion) in the past three years.
'Many might think there is not much to celebrate, but I strongly disagree,' he said.
SM Lee was equally optimistic about the industry, especially in Asia-Pacific, which will have the highest growth of all regions.
Having seen the potential spin-offs in trade, tourism and investment flows, governments in Asia are also beginning to liberalise their air transport regimes, he said.
Sharing SM Lee's optimism on Asia was Iata spokesman Tony Concil: 'Asia is a growing market for aviation - and that includes full-service network carriers and low-cost carriers.'
Air travel in Asia set for major take-off
And countries whose governments expose their national airlines to competition will triumph, says SM Lee
By Rebecca Lee
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/top...36554,00.html?
AIR travel in Asia will soon take off on a massive scale and yesterday Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew spelt out how he saw the aviation scene changing - and who will triumph.
They will be those countries whose governments liberally exchange air traffic rights and expose their national airlines to competition.
SM Lee, who has kept a long and close interest in the aviation industry, was speaking at an industry event attended by 150 captains of the business.
And just what can Singapore do?
His answer, in a nutshell, was that it could not afford to sit idly and both Changi Airport and Singapore Airlines (SIA) must adapt quickly to the changing landscape.
'At stake is not just SIA, but Singapore's future as an air hub,' he said, speaking at the opening of the International Air Transport Association (Iata)/Asian Aerospace Aviation Summit.
Mr Lee's comments come against the backdrop of an industry that has undergone tumultuous changes in the past few years with traditional carriers having to compete with upstart low-cost airlines, and the resulting consolidation.
SM Lee noted that competition for Singapore will be in quality of service, adequacy of networks in terms of frequencies and destinations offered.
'Changi must maintain and strengthen its connectivity,' he said.
SIA will have to meet competition from low-cost carriers as well as the traditional full-service airlines that have remade themselves, he said.
The proliferation of low-cost carriers in America and Europe - and now starting in Asia - has made travelling by air as common as taking a bus. Today, about 45 per cent of the more than 700 million international tourists and 40 per cent of the world's manufactured exports travel by air. Civil aviation also created at least six million jobs worldwide, Mr Lee noted.
In Singapore, aviation had also been key in developing the country into a global economic hub and cosmopolitan city, he said.
Iata director-general Giovanni Bisignani last night also highlighted the important role aviation played as a 'backbone to the tourist industry' and 'the No. 1 employer in the world', even though airlines lost more than US$30 billion (S$50 billion) in the past three years.
'Many might think there is not much to celebrate, but I strongly disagree,' he said.
SM Lee was equally optimistic about the industry, especially in Asia-Pacific, which will have the highest growth of all regions.
Having seen the potential spin-offs in trade, tourism and investment flows, governments in Asia are also beginning to liberalise their air transport regimes, he said.
Sharing SM Lee's optimism on Asia was Iata spokesman Tony Concil: 'Asia is a growing market for aviation - and that includes full-service network carriers and low-cost carriers.'
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http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/top...36758,00.html?
thought i would put the link instead as there were 4 other pieces of related news.
thought i would put the link instead as there were 4 other pieces of related news.