Copa Airlines workers demand respect for signed agreements; the airline responds.

Workers from the four unions of Copa Airlines protested in front of the company’s facilities, demanding respect for workers’ rights.

Among the unions present were the Panamanian Union of Onboard Auxiliaries (Sipanab), the Panamanian Union of Commercial Aviators (Unpac), the National Union of Workers in the Aviation, Logistics, and Similar Industries (Sielas), and the Union of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians of Panama (Sitecmap).

The members of Sipanab denounced that Copa would be promoting “voluntary withdrawals” which in the end would be “resignations in practice”, and also denounced that the company would be violating previously signed collective agreements.

“Copa Airlines is unilaterally reactivating its partners, disrespecting the law, specifically Article 159 of the Labor Code which states that the reduction of the workday must be agreed upon with the consent of the union,” said Rodolfo Mendieta, general secretary of Sipanab.

The leader of the cabin crew also denounced that the company would be “reducing the workday” without taking into account the labor risks faced by the workers.

For his part, the president of Unpac, Jaime Cohen, also denounced the failure to comply with resolutions, laws and agreements in force. “One of the justifications that companies have made at the national level is that because of the issue of the pandemic and the national emergency they cannot be enforced,” said the leader.

Cohen assured that the company is calling on pilots for humanitarian flights using volunteers.

“In aspects of the crew, mechanics, pilots, we have a collective agreement that stipulates a seniority list for pilots. However, the company invented something that is not agreed on the basis of volunteers: they are calling pilots for humanitarian flights,” said Cohen.

In Venezuela, employees denounce pressures

Airline employees in the stations of Caracas, Valencia and Maracaibo, who asked to remain anonymous, denounced massive layoffs and pressure from managers to force them to sign a voluntary retirement without payment of social benefits as indicated by the law.

Copa pronounced itself

In a statement published by the airline, it indicates that, since the beginning of the pandemic, it has held more than 70 meetings with the four unions of the company and more than 30 meetings with its employees, handling the difficult situation it faces in the fairest and most transparent manner, always trying to protect as many jobs as possible, without compromising the survival of the airline in the face of this unprecedented crisis. Even though the proposals presented by the company are intended to save as many jobs as possible, Copa recognizes that it is the union’s right to accept or reject them.

The statement continues: Copa Airlines, which has always sought the well-being of its employees, in March, when the impact of the pandemic was imminent, paid the voluntary profit sharing bonus and, without receiving any income, paid the second half of March. A similar situation occurred in April, when, with operations suspended, he paid for the entire month, including the corresponding item for the thirteenth month.

In addition, since May, Copa Airlines has voluntarily given employees who maintain their work contracts suspended and who took advantage of the 6 and 12 month leave plans, a voucher of $300 per month, as economic support for their employees and families in these difficult times. It has also covered other benefits such as health and life insurance.

All this support to its staff is given even though the Airline reported a loss of $386 million in the second half of 2020, is losing more than $2.5 million in cash per day and has been forced to leave a significant number of aircraft to adjust its size to the new reality.

Going forward, demand for travel remains 90 percent below pre-pandemic levels, and Copa plans to operate a very small number of flights for the remainder of 2020 and 2021. For this reason, with the sole purpose of saving as many jobs as possible, the Company submitted proposals to the unions to reduce working hours. These proposals, if accepted by the unions, would save more than 400 jobs, by dividing the least number of available flight hours among a larger number of employees.

We consider that, this is a moment in which we must work as a team, looking for the best solutions for everyone, avoiding unnecessary and unjustified conflicts. Our efforts and economic resources must be focused, today more than ever, in the fight against the effects of a pandemic that does not give truce, avoiding the economic collapse of the Company and a greater affectation to our collaborators.

Copa Airlines, as a responsible company that complies with Panamanian labor laws, will continue to talk to its unions in an open and transparent manner, promoting an atmosphere of collaboration and respecting the power of the unions to accept or reject our proposals. The only interest of the Airline is to survive this difficult crisis and save as many jobs as possible, hoping in the future to continue contributing to the growth and development of its employees, Panama and the countries it serves.

Source: La Estrella