Our careers are on the line, say Bouraq pilots

JAKARTA (JP): The careers of 14 suspended Bouraq Airlines pilots hang in the balance because they cannot extend their flying licenses, the group said here yesterday.

Andre Tambingon, one of the pilots, said the civil aviation safety regulation stipulated that to extend the license, a pilot must have a minimum of 10 flying hours in six months or risk having his/her license revoked.

"Our indefinite layoff means that we cannot fly aircraft. So how can we extend our license? We are afraid our career will be over soon."

The economic turmoil has drastically reduced the number of travelers in the country and forced domestic airlines to reduce flights or suspend service on several routes.

Due to the crisis, Bouraq Airlines decided earlier this month to lay off 14 of the 29 pilots and copilots for an unspecified time with their salaries cut in half.

He said the pilots had suggested that instead of laying them off, they could work in shifts and the salary cut could be applied to all employees.

"To date we haven't heard anything from Bouraq's management," Andre said at a news briefing at the Legal Aid Institute (LBH).

"The company has never informed us why it was the pilots who had to be laid off in the first place. Why not the employees in less important sections."

The institute planned to mediate yesterday the industrial dispute between the pilots and the airline but the company's representatives failed to show up.

The company said in a letter, instead, that the decision (to suspend the pilots) was taken due to the economic crisis and "as a way to survive".

"Your clients (the pilots) have also sent letters to the city office of the Ministry of Manpower and we have done the same thing. That's why if the institute wishes to mediate, it would be better to go to the (manpower) office," the letter said.

As of last month, the institute has defended 1,194 laid off workers in 29 court cases.

Surya Tjandra, an institute staffer, said LBH was also handling the dismissal of 17 Bouraq flight attendants.

They are now fighting for their right to be paid until their work contracts expire, he said.

Rita Olivia, another LBH staffer, said the company should have paid the withheld salary as the women's contracts were valid for the next six months.

Bouraq has about 500 flight attendants, according to Devi Sumeirina, who works as a flight attendant. (ind)