Korean Air Pilots Demand 37-Percent Salary Hike Amid High Demand Of Experienced South Korean Pilots Overseas
Unionized pilots of Korean Air have prepared their action plans anticipating the management's rejection of their proposal for a 37-percent salary increase - the utmost legal salary hike allowed to Korean companies, Business Traveller noted Tuesday.
Korean Pilot Union (KPU) and New Korean Air Pilot Union reportedly plan to cast their votes on the salary hike proposed by the management, which is a 1.9-percent increase above 2015.
"The unions have developed action plans, including a partial walkout, in preparation for the rejection of the proposal," said Seo Sang Won, KPU member.
Korea Herald reported Tuesday that about 1,900 members of the two unions will vote on the management's proposal until January 29.
"Our demand is legitimate as the company froze or inched up the pay increase rate over the past few years," Seo added.
With the big difference between the demand of the unions and the management-proposed salary hike, industry watchers forecasted that Korean Air could face its first-ever strike from pilots after a decade.
They added that one of the reasons why the pilot unions have demanded for such a huge salary hike is because experienced South Korean pilots are in demand overseas, particularly in China and in Middle East.
Airline companies from China and Middle East reportedly offer higher salary as compared to local airline companies.
"About 140 pilots left Korean Air last year and 40 pilots among them chose Chinese airlines,'' Seo said, adding that most of these pilots were offered twice of three times higher salary.
"Pilots will continue to be lured by other overseas carriers at a faster pace for the next few years if the company ignores the pay raise demand."
Reports revealed that many South Korean pilots are leaving the county in search of higher salary abroad.
"China's demand for pilots is spiking especially recently as many low-budget carriers are entering the market," said transportation ministry official Shim Jae Hong, noted by Yonhap on Oct. 12.
"They are in need of pilots right away and South Korean pilots might be their easy choice, given that they are highly qualified and that both countries also have many things in common when it comes to culture," he added.
