TAROM, Romania’s state-owned airline, faced widespread flight cancellations on Monday due to a strike by its pilots and co-pilots demanding higher wages. The labour action, which was not officially announced, has revealed underlying tensions within the airline’s workforce.
TAROM Pilots Silent Strike Began on Sunday Evening
The strike began late Sunday, with over 20 pilots and co-pilots declaring themselves “unfit to fly.” This action led TAROM to describe the situation as “unprecedented,” though it stopped short of acknowledging the strike publicly. Information about the strike has primarily circulated through unofficial channels, leaving passengers and stakeholders in the dark.
The company officially announced that some flights from July 8, 2024, will be cancelled due to the temporary unavailability of crew members. Under international aviation regulations and strict domestic flight safety policies, each flight was cancelled because a crew member of each aircraft was declared “unfit to fly.” Individual pilot decisions were made following applicable regulations to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew.
The flights cancelled so far are ROT101/2 Otopeni – Cairo – Otopeni, ROT167/8 Otopeni – Beyrut – Otopeni, ROT187/8 Otopeni – Amman-Otopeni, ROT701/2 Otopeni – Iasi – Otopeni, ROT621/2 – Otopeni – Oradea – Otopeni, ROT261/2 – Otopeni – Istanbul -Otopeni, ROT231/2 – Otopeni – Budapest – Otopeni, ROT 301/2 – Otopeni – Frankfurt – Otopeni, ROT361/2 – Otopeni – Amsterdam – Otopeni, ROT 381/2 – Otopeni – Paris – Otopeni, ROT 415/6 -Otopeni – Madrid– Otopeni, ROT 291/2 – Otopeni – Sofia – Otopeni, ROT 643/4 – Otopeni – Cluj – Otopeni, ROT 703/4 – Otopeni – Iasi – Otopeni, ROT 211 /2 – Otopeni – Belgrade – Otopeni, ROT 627/8 – Otopeni – Oradea – Otopeni, ROT 383/4 – Otopeni – Paris– Otopeni, ROT 237/8 – Otopeni – Budapest – Otopeni, ROT 363/4 – Otopeni – Amsterdam – Otopeni, ROT 305/6 – Otopeni – Frankfurt – Otopeni, ROT 607/8 – Otopeni – Timisoara – Otopeni.
On Monday, July 8, TAROM announced other flights cancelled: ROT 211/2 – Otopeni – Belgrade – Otopeni, ROT 627/8 – Otopeni – Oradea – Otopeni, ROT 383/4 – Otopeni – Paris– Otopeni, ROT 237/8 – Otopeni – Budapest – Otopeni, ROT 363 /4 – Otopeni – Amsterdam – Otopeni, ROT 305/6 – Otopeni – Frankfurt – Otopeni, ROT 607/8 – Otopeni – Timisoara – Otopeni
Wage Disparities Is the Cause of Pilot’s Unfitness
At the heart of the strike are significant wage concerns. Currently, TAROM pilots earn a salary of 6,000 euros net per month, while co-pilots earn between 2,000 and 3,000 euros. Despite these figures, TAROM salaries are roughly half of those other airlines offer, highlighting a competitive disadvantage in attracting and retaining talent.
Broader Workforce Discontent
The strike by flight crew members is part of a larger narrative of dissatisfaction among TAROM employees. Union leader Narcis Pascu has been vocal about the lack of wage increases, noting that the last salary hike occurred in 2007. Many TAROM employees, particularly those not involved in flight operations, continue to earn minimum wage, exacerbating workplace dissatisfaction.
TAROM’s Financial Struggles and Management Instability
TAROM’s financial woes further complicate the situation. The airline last posted a profit in 2007 and has since relied on state aid, including a recent injection of around 100 million euros. Compounding these issues is a revolving door of leadership; the airline has seen 18 general directors in the past 11 years, contributing to its instability and lack of strategic direction.
The strike by TAROM’s pilots and co-pilots is a symptom of deeper issues within the airline, including wage disparities, broader employee discontent, financial instability, and leadership challenges. As the airline grapples with these problems, finding a sustainable resolution to employee grievances will be crucial for its future stability and success.
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