Korean Air's pilots' union has begun preparations to enhance the effectiveness of a potential strike. They are seeking to change the criteria for essential staffing levels that must be maintained during a strike due to the nature of essential public services. The outcome of this adjustment is expected to be a key factor in determining the intensity of any future strike and the extent of operational disruptions.
According to industry sources, Korean Air will enter the first mediation process for amending the 'Essential Maintenance Agreement' at the local labor commission next week. Representatives from both the airline and the pilots' union are expected to attend.
The Essential Maintenance Agreement is a labor-management accord that establishes minimum staffing levels and operational scope to ensure that essential services related to public safety and daily life are not interrupted during strikes or other labor disputes. Under labor law, the airline industry is classified as an essential public service, requiring a certain percentage of staff to be maintained even during a strike.
During this mediation process, the pilots' union aims to revise the criteria for determining necessary staffing levels during a strike. Currently, Korean Air maintains that 80% of its international flight schedule must be operational based on a monthly flight schedule.
The union plans to argue that this should be calculated on a daily flight schedule instead. They contend that using a monthly basis could lead to an inflated number of essential staff, as it may include pilots not involved in operations on the day of the strike.
The airline's staffing structure is based on flight schedules, with duties, rest, standby, and training alternating daily. If staffing needs are calculated based on the entire month, it could include legally mandated rest periods, standby personnel, and those needing rest after long-haul flights. This would increase the number of essential staff and reduce the number of pilots available to participate in the strike.
Conversely, if the revision is implemented, the number of operational pilots during a strike could significantly decrease. For example, if 280 flights are typically operated daily, requiring two pilots each, the total staffing need would be 560. To maintain an 80% operational rate for international flights, at least 224 flights must be operated, which would reduce the necessary staffing to just 448 pilots for that day, representing about 16% of the total 2,800 pilots. The remaining pilots could choose to participate in the strike, thereby increasing the strike's effectiveness.
Last month, the Korean Air pilots' union approved a strike authorization with an 80% approval rate. The key issue is the reestablishment of seniority ahead of a merger with Asiana Airlines at the end of the year. They plan to secure their right to strike following the mediation process, interpreting the current preparations as a way to ensure the strike's effectiveness through amendments to the Essential Maintenance Agreement.
An industry insider noted, "Due to the nature of flight schedules, pilots typically only work about 55% of the time even during normal operations. The debate over how to calculate essential staffing levels has been ongoing, and it is likely to continue within Korean Air until the merger is finalized at the end of the year."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.