Japan Airlines in talks to prevent pilots strike

Airline Industry Information, Nov 17, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Japan Airlines and unions representing over 2,000 pilots and cabin crew have begun negotiations in an attempt to avoid a planned one-day strike that would see a quarter of the airline's flights cancelled.

Unions told Japan Airlines' management that unless their demands for bigger winter bonuses were agreed to it would stage a one-day strike on 18 November 2004 that would lead to 155 domestic flights being cancelled and leave up to 18,000 passengers stranded. The airline said that international flights would not be affected as international pilots and staff belong to a different union.

Japan Airlines said that it had offered to pay a bonus of JPY510,000 to the average 27-year-old worker but that unions are demanding a bonus of JPY697,000, reports The Associated Press.

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