Union in Oman wins pay deal for airline workers

April 13, 2011

Aviation workers at the national airline in Oman have won a pay settlement following industrial action last month.

Some 200 workers, represented by the Oman Air Union, walked out on strike to demand better pay and working conditions. As a result, the state-owned airline Oman Air has now agreed to improve pay rates by, for example, doubling the wages of cabin crew and other staff members. The pay rises will be backdated to 1 March 2011. The company has also agreed to: an increase in workers’ meal allowances; a cost-of-living pay rise; health benefits with extended cover for staff members’ families and a review of overtime rates.

The agreement comes in the midst of a series of protests across the country over pay and unemployment levels; Sultan Qaboos bin Said has responded by raising the minimum wage by more than 40 per cent as well as by making other concessions.

Congratulating the union, Bilal Malkawi, ITF Arab World coordinator, said: “This achievement shows how strong the new union is, and how organised its members are. We in the ITF will always support the union to help it secure a better future. We hope to build a close ongoing relationship with the union and to work together in the spirit of cooperation.”