Asiana Pilots Union Strike Begins... Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Raises Alert Level to 'Caution'

No Progress in Wage Negotiation Talks for 6 Months
Pilot Union "Starts Indefinite Lawful Strike"
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Begins Crisis Response for Air Transport

As the Asiana Airlines Pilots' Union, which has been in conflict with management over wage increase rates, has initiated industrial action, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has decided to raise the crisis response level related to air transportation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Both labor and management at Asiana Airlines have been negotiating wages for over six months since last October. However, the union proposed a wage increase rate in the 10% range, while management offered 2.5%, resulting in a stalemate.

With no narrowing of the wage increase gap, the Pilots' Union held a launching ceremony for the dispute countermeasure committee at the headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 7th, announcing, "From 10 a.m. today, we have entered an indefinite lawful struggle prioritizing flight safety."

The union plans to conduct pilot and crew briefings 1 hour and 20 minutes before takeoff as stipulated, instead of the previous approximately 2 hours before takeoff, and to comply with the legal speed limits while the aircraft is taxiing on the runway. Consequently, flight departures may be delayed by at least 30 minutes.

In response, Asiana Airlines stated, "In case of delays, we plan to adjust flight schedules and change routes accordingly," adding, "We will explore all possible measures to minimize passenger inconvenience caused by delays."

On the same day, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that, according to the 'Air Transport Paralysis Crisis Response Manual,' it will raise the crisis alert level from the existing interest stage to the caution stage starting June 7. When the alert level rises to the caution stage, an emergency response headquarters led by the Director of the Aviation Policy Office will be activated. Typically, the crisis alert level is raised to the caution stage when industrial action is decided, escalates to the warning stage if the action leads to a strike, and is further elevated to the severe stage if the strike continues for more than 20 days.

Additionally, the ministry has requested related organizations such as airport corporations and airlines to operate their own emergency response teams and plans to conduct intensive monitoring of the union's industrial action trends, aircraft delay situations, and flight safety status.

Hadongsoo, Director of the Aviation Policy Office at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and head of the Air Transport Paralysis Emergency Response Headquarters, stated, "In cooperation with airlines and related organizations, we plan to respond strictly to any illegal or safety-related violations that may occur during the union's lawful struggle industrial action period."