Picture of the Day: Korean Air Pilots Vote to Strike
Korean Air Lines planes are visible outside a window at a departure gate of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Feb. 19, 2016. Unionized pilots of South Korea’s No. 1 carrier voted for a strike on the day which, if carried out, would be the first in 11 years. The pilots demanded a 37 percent wage hike, while the management offered a 1.9 percent increase. The union said it is not planning on an immediate walkout, but will gradually raise the strike participation level depending on how talks proceed with the management. (Yonhap)
Whoa…the pilots want a 37 percent wage hike? That’s quite a hike!
“Korean Air Pilots Vote to Strike”
What did they vote to stike?
…a mountain or a sea wall?
I wonder if the 37% figure was their lawyers highball negotiation tactic or if their wages are really far behind compared to those from other OECD countries.
http://www.rishworthaviation.com/page/1755/korean-air-pilot-jobs.aspx
I’m curious about the wages, too.
Most US airlines are pretty up front about their pay scale but I couldn’t find it for Korean air.
@Liz, below is what the Korea Times says on this topic. It appears that this whole dispute has to do with how much more Chinese airlines are paying their pilots compared to Korean Air:
Whoa that’s interesting the Chinese make twice as much.
I kind of wanted to see the hourly rate though. Maybe it’s different in Asia. Pilots here aren’t salaried, they’re paid an hourly wage (depending on tenure with the airline and whether they are Captain or first officer).
The FAA has rules about how many hours they are permitted to fly (though it varies depending on layovers and weather and so forth). I’m wondering if the Chinese make more simply because they are permitted to fly more hours (less crew rest), or if they truly have higher wages.