MOM to mediate SIA, Alpa-S dispute

Singapore - Singapore Airlines (SIA) has requested the Manpower Ministry (MOM) to step in and mediate the issue of no-pay leave with its pilots' union, weeks after negotiations began.

At the heart of the dispute is the number of no-pay leave days pilots should take in a month.

SIA wants its captains and first officers to take three and fours days off respectively, but the Air Line Pilots Association-Singapore (Alpa-S) has refused to comply as managers and executives in the other departments are asked to take just a single day off a month, either from their annual leave or as no-pay leave.

P James, president of Alpa-S said that if SIA wants its pilots to do more, then it is only right that some form of restitution be made when times are better.

"We have proposed to the company that pilots be put on the same scheme as other managers and ground staff, but this has been rejected... We have no issues with taking one day off a month. Anything more than that, we should negotiate the terms," said James.

An SIA spokesman said that the company is still in discussion with Alpa-S and will work with the union towards reaching an agreement, reported The Straits Times (ST).

An MOM spokesperson however, told the newspaper that it will be meeting up with SIA and Alpa-S soon to resolve the matter amicably.

The dispute with the pilots could potentially scuttle previous agreements made with other SIA employees.

Earlier this month, SIA put its senior management staff on a compulsory leave scheme which would be extended to all managers starting 1 May 2009.

In-principle agreement has also been reached with the Singapore Airlines Staff Union and the Airline Executive Staff Union for ground workers and cabin crew to be put on the shorter work month scheme starting next month, but this is subject to a deal being struck with the pilots as well.

If SIA and its pilots cannot come to an agreement soon, it is unlikely that the company will be able to introduce the shorter work month scheme on 1 May.