Korean Air Pilots Union Delegates Wage Negotiations to Management: "Company Stability is the Top Priority"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] The Korean Air Pilots Union (KAPU) has delegated the 2019 wage adjustment to the company. This decision was made with the intention of uniting efforts to respond to the crisis amid the dark clouds hanging over the entire aviation industry due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the 28th, KAPU wage negotiation committee members stated in a position paper titled "Submitting the 2019 Wage Adjustment Proposal to the General Assembly," "After seven rounds of negotiations since last December, we delegated the wage adjustment to the company in the eighth negotiation session to unite efforts in overcoming the rapidly changing external environment caused by COVID-19 and the resulting difficulties faced by the company."

Accordingly, Korean Air proposed to KAPU a plan to increase wages by 2.5% of the total amount (including 50% payment of the Family Month bonus, at least 1.4% increase in flight allowances, and other increases in lodging expenses). This is similar to the level agreed upon with the general staff union in the wage negotiations concluded last September.

KAPU wage negotiation committee members said, "We tried to secure a raise that would reward the hard work of union members during the negotiation period, but we feel that the external reality we face is not easy," adding, "As a result, we judged that it would not benefit either labor or management to delay further, and that the efforts used for wage negotiations should be redirected toward stabilizing our workplace, Korean Air, and normalizing the aviation industry."

They also stated, "The company should shed the burden of wage negotiations, focus on proper responses and stabilization regarding COVID-19, and concentrate on creating a workplace where employees can work happily."