The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC) accused TAP on Wednesday of committing a “defamatory attack” on cabin crew salaries, after publishing a comparative study with other countries.
According to the study, reported by Eco newspaper, TAP crew members can earn up to 50% more than their British Airways peers, even with pay cuts, according to the conclusions of a comparison conducted by a consultant for the company.
In a statement to members, SNPVAC began saying that “according to the pre-prepared script for these occasions, TAP is now being made public with a defamatory attack, to discredit the decisions made at the November 3 general meeting.” On that day, the TAP crew decided to continue with a strike on December 8 and 9.
“The week before, we were already treated to an unspeakable stand on the right to parenthood and social rights enshrined in law”said the union, adding that, “the rights enshrined in law apply to all Portuguese, not just TAP crew members, as some would like to make clear.”
Thinking back on the news, the union structure said that “for serious discussion, it would be more constructive for SNPVAC to have access to said study other than through the media”.
“By the way, would this news have been published if we had agreed to negotiate the new company agreement, based on TAP’s proposal?”, similar to what happened when the proposal to update subsistence allowances was presented.”
SNPVAC later defended it was “worrying to hear the CEO” [presidente executiva] from TAP to underline that the Restructuring Plan is a good plan and rigorously adhered to, but then reveals values that have nothing to do with the goals and objectives outlined there.”
According to the union, “the average salary mentioned in the study presented by Eco is 50% higher than what was set in the restructuring plan for 2022”, and “this value is higher than the target set in the same plan for the first year without salary cuts in 2025”.
“Understanding that TAP is going through a pivotal moment in its survival, SNPVAC has made every effort to make it possible to achieve the restructuring plan’s objectives and objectives. A little transparent”he added.
For the union, it is “at least a questionable study – purportedly impartial and competent – confirming that”[a] the average monthly pay of a TAP cabin crew member is about 3,260 euros gross”, when in fact 70% of cabin crew earn an average income of 1,303 euros gross; and more than 1,000 cabin crew receive a value of less than 1,000 euros gross. crew members, about 500 receive as a fixed salary slightly more than the national minimum wage,” he guaranteed.
Thus, “in light of this bellicose attitude of the company”, “SNPVAC’s management concludes that the administration is unwilling to negotiate and would rather opt for a continuous management alienated from reality,” the union said, referring to ” the attacks and counter-information will be a constant in the coming days”.
“TAP can create diversions, but we will not fail to remember that the administration alone is responsible for this outcome,” he concluded.
Source: DN
