TAP increases minimum wage to 1,410 euros and cuts pilot discounts by 10%

TAP will increase the minimum wage for its workers from 1,330 euros to 1,410 euros retroactively through January, and will cut by 10% the cuts that pilots have suffered in their salaries.

“As a result of this open and ongoing dialogue, it was decided to update the guaranteed minimum wage from 1,330 euros to 1,410 euros retroactively to January 2022. This will ensure the principle of maintaining an indefinite wage level equal to two national minimum wages,” the TAP Executive Committee said in A letter I sent to the workers which Lusa can access.

According to the letter, intended for pilots, the executive committee chaired by Christine Ormeier-Widner will “unilaterally reduce the reductions they have experienced by 10%”, as well as pay the landing allowance uninterrupted and retroactively until January 2022 and suspend the order. From the “clawback” mechanism (not planning overtime accordingly).

The “clawback” mechanism is provided for in Clause 12 of ATE [Acordo Temporário de Emergência] It allows for a penalty to be applied to TAP if it exceeds 300,000 annual flying hours and also limits that TAP cannot plan extra time for pilots, as shown in a memo obtained by Lusa.

Regarding the aircraft fleet for the coming years, the company said that “the final decision of the executive team” refers to “the Embraer fleet of 19 aircraft for 2022,” and for 2023, “the growth of the Airbus fleet is expected.” .

“We are working on scenarios and preparing them for approval by our shareholders,” he said.

On Wednesday, a group of unions, representing the majority of TAP workers, said the TAP executive committee had chosen to break the “conversations process”.

The various trade union structures stressed that they understood “that the Executive Committee of the TAP puts itself in a confrontational position, breaks the process of talks that were taking place, and from that moment assumes all the responsibilities that may arise from now on”.

On Saturday, the Union of Civil Aviation Pilots (SPAC) accused Tunisair of taking an “incomprehensible negotiating position” by issuing an “ultimate ultimatum”, as it would be given a deadline, until Tuesday, to accept its proposal. Under penalty of modification of the agreement. within the scope of the restructuring.

In a statement, SPAC stated that “Knowing that TAP has no possibility to respond, this letter clearly constitutes an unacceptable position for the company, which is indicative of an incomprehensible negotiating position.”

According to the pilots’ union, if the proposal is not accepted, “TAP unilaterally changes ATE [Acordo Temporário de Emergência]with further reduction reduced to 10% [em vez dos atuais 20% adicionais] Until November 30 of this year, with the suspension of the “clawback” mechanism for the same period.

Today, TAP has decided to unilaterally move forward with the changes it proposed to SPAC.

In the letter sent to workers, the airline’s officials warned that growth in scale and activity “does not mean the company is profitable”, and that it was necessary “to meet all financial obligations of the payback plan to create a sustainable faucet.”

The Executive Committee added that TAP’s path of recovery “is gaining new momentum in recent months”, thanks to the beginning of the market recovery and financial aid from the state, without which “the company would not have survived.”

“But there should be no doubt: the company is still in crisis and the financial situation is still very fragile,” advanced TAP managers, who highlight new difficulties such as fuel costs and exchange rate volatility, due to economic developments and the war in Ukraine .

“TAP must continue to meet all of the assumptions and objectives set out in the restructuring plan, which was approved only six months ago. The company adheres to this plan and its survival depends on the fulfillment of the agreed upon commitments,” the letter asserts.

The Executive Committee also makes it clear that the current salary cuts are a “commitment on the part of everyone during the life of the plan” and that they cannot be changed “merely to increase business”.

“In addition, one of the main goals set for these cuts was the ability to adopt a guaranteed minimum wage to which no cuts would apply. Applying this minimum guarantee means that the effective cuts are not 25%, but vary on average between 12 and 15 %.%,” the letter stated.

Regarding pilots specifically, the Executive Committee recognizes that the emergency agreement reached under the recovery plan is “more demanding and difficult”, due to the additional cuts, but claims that jobs were agreed to be protected during the life of the plan.

“Fortunately, given the growth of operations in the coming summer, it is no longer necessary to protect the same number of pilot jobs through a temporary emergency agreement, and TAP management is sensitive to this factor,” the letter adds. The TAP Executive Committee is committed to “maintaining an open dialogue with unions, pilots and all workers”.