Asiana Airlines pilot union to strike from July 24 as wage talks stall

[Courtesy of Asiana Airlines]

Asiana Airlines Inc. pilot union said on Friday that it will hold a strike on July 24, as the negotiations to increase wages with the management have stalled.

According to the union, it would organize a secondary industrial action on the day and stage a strike on July 24, as four negotiations on wages failed.

The secondary action involves more severe non-compliance moves, such as refusal to fly planes or rapid exhaustion of fuels via flying at a higher altitude or deceleration.

“The union and the management failed to reach an agreement despite the month-long law-abiding struggle,” said an unnamed official from the union, adding that “because the management called a proposal to maintain stagnant wages from 2019 to 2021, and to raise the wage by only 2.5 percent in 2022.”

“The union feels sorry for the inconveniences that may happen to the public, especially in a busy summer vacation season,” the official added. “The union will strive to change the company’s stance, aiming to halt flights and cargos to America and Europe, the busiest routes.”

Even in strikes, Korean airlines, part of the public services sector, are required to have at least 80 percent of staff on duty for international routes, 70 percent for Jeju routes and 50 percent for domestic routes. In this sense, the upcoming strike is less likely to impose significant trouble on international routes, most of which are expected to operate without major disruptions.

Flight delays caused by pilot unions’ strikes have totaled 28 as of July 3.