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Pilot Labor Unions at Japan Airline Strike

Posted on: Thursday, 23 March 2006, 03:03 CST

TOKYO - A group of pilot labor unions at subsidiaries of All Nippon Airways began a 24-hour strike Thursday, forcing cancellations of 13 percent of the airline group's domestic flights and affecting 7,600 passengers, an airline official said.

The strike will not affect any international flights, All Nippon Airways Co. spokesman Masato Ogawa said.

A group of pilot labor unions at rival Japan Airlines Corp., which had separately threatened the 24-hour strike, averted the walkout, the company said in a statement.

Thursday's walkout involved four pilot labor unions at ANA's subsidiaries. The unions were demanding an average 9.6 percent increase in monthly pay per pilot, said ANA spokeswoman Mariko Matsuoka.

The company has refused any pay hikes, citing higher fuel costs and competition.

The unions said in a statement that they were also dissatisfied with the management's stance over training, promotion and other conditions.

ANA's own flights were not affected by the walkout, and all the group's flights will be back to normal Friday, ANA officials said.

The four unions are All Nippon Crew's Association composed of 407 pilots, Air Nippon Network Pilot Union made up of 43 pilots, Air Next Crew's Association with 14 pilots and Air Central Pilots' Union composed of 37 pilots.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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