Strike and firings pit AeroMongolia against trade union

Strike and firings pit AeroMongolia against trade union

Civil aviation company AeroMongolia fired dozens of its engineers, who organized a strike last week.

The company’s trade union, which represents over 120 workers, demanded company managers increase engineer salaries by 30 percent. The strike organizers claimed their wages of US$800 per month, were “not sufficient” when their responsibilities and the salaries at other carrier companies were taken into account. Seven of the organizers were high-profile engineers who confirm safety and preparedness for the company’s Fokker-50 aircraft before takeoff.

In a statement, the company said that striking employees accounted for 0.03 percent of its staff and that their actions will not affect the companies operations. However, a flight destined for Ovoot Tolgoi was delayed over three hours last Monday.

Daily publications reported that AeroMongolia signed a short-term contract with a Dutch citizen, who will provide technical service and assure the readiness of the Fokker-50 aircrafts, immediately after the strike.

In response to the company’s actions, the Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions stated that AeroMongolia “brutally violated” the rights of free expression and assembly. It also claimed that firing presiding members of the company’s trade union is illegal.

AeroMongolia provides around 60 percent of Mongolia’s domestic flights, chartered flights to mining sites, and flights to Hohhot city in Inner Mongolia, China. The company has a fleet of four Dutch-made Fokker aircrafts, two of which have been kept out of service by Mongolia’s Aviation Authority due to lack of proper technical service.

by Ch.Sumiyabazar
THE UB POST