Negotiation from "in the air" to "on the ground" : employment relation between pilots and C Airlines in China

Abstract

Employment relations in China's airline industry has received considerable public concern for a long time as there has been no effective solution for the pilot employment dispute. Emerging in a peculiar industrial and social-political context, the research of employment relations in the airline industry, particularly in the respect of pilot employment relations with increased vulnerability to the shortage of pilots, presented a completely different picture in comparison with research on other industries in China. Changes of business mode and external labor market in the competitive market since gradual deregulation have significantly shocked the outdated coordination mechanism of employment relationships in dominant state owned airlines, which were playing a critical role in influencing productivity, quality of service and customer satisfaction. In this paper, negotiation as a basic method for dispute resolution at workplace level and a breakthrough point for setting up inherent coordination mechanism in SOEs has been discussed in respect of harmonizing the relationship between pilots and airlines. The contingent negotiation on daily issues within the workplace was considered as a constructive and realistic way to facilitate positive outcomes by applying value creating skills. Being a practical approach to wedging the employees' voice into the rigid and paternalistic management and then to promote equity., efficiency and voice at workplace, this micro level and problem solving oriented negotiation needs to be advocated and embedded within current employment relations management in considering both pilots 'and airlines' interests.