The Korean Air Lines pilots' union has decided to seek the right to strike. With eight months left before the launch of the merged carrier with Asiana Airlines, the union has begun steps to prepare for a strike as differences with management over how to set pilot seniority between the two airlines have not narrowed.
According to the aviation industry on the 9th, the Korean Air Lines pilots' union held a regular general meeting the previous day and conducted a strike action vote, approving it with a majority of all members in favor.
The union is expected to file with the labor commission within a month to secure the right to strike. Once it secures that right, it can legally conduct actions such as strikes and work-to-rule.
The Korean Air Lines pilots' union is moving to secure the right to strike because it is clashing with management over how to set the seniority system after the merger with Asiana Airlines.
Seniority is a term that refers to internal classes and length-of-service rankings within an airline. Each airline has its own distinct pilot seniority system.
Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines also apply different standards in several areas, from pilot hiring qualifications to determining juniors and seniors and captain promotions. For example, Korean Air Lines grants eligibility to apply as a pilot starting at 1,000 flight hours, while Asiana Airlines allows entry with 300 hours.
An aviation industry official said, "Beyond reasons related to rank and compensation such as promotions and salaries, pilots are sensitive to the seniority system because internal hierarchy is strict."
Ahead of the merger, the Korean Air Lines pilots' union has demanded that the criteria for the seniority system be included in collective bargaining items. The reason, it said, is to prevent members from being disadvantaged by unilateral changes to standards by management during the process of integrating Asiana Airlines pilots after the merger.
However, Korean Air Lines has rejected the demand, saying that ranking among employees falls under the company's personnel authority and is not a subject for negotiation. Labor and management held 12 rounds of talks since Oct. last year, but as they failed to narrow differences, they declared a breakdown in negotiations last month.
Since then, the union has been staging a relay one-person protest in front of Korean Air Lines' headquarters in Gangseo District, Seoul, and around Gimpo International Airport. They are taking turns holding signs with phrases such as "Who is the merger for?" and "A company that only cares about the neighbor's employees," and are sitting in protest.
After the union secures the right to strike, an application for mediation to the labor commission is expected to be filed soon. However, even if labor commission mediation breaks down and the union secures the right to strike, a full strike is not possible. That is because air transport is designated as an essential public service site along with railways and hospitals.
An aviation industry official said, "Even if a full strike is difficult, there are various ways pilots can respond legally, such as causing delays in ground movements," adding, "However, since a hard-line response by pilots could lead to harm to passengers, it will be important to reach a swift agreement."