Panama's Copa Airlines pilots avert strike, reach deal with company (updated)

Copa Holdings

02/02/2023 16:21

(Adds details on agreement)
       PANAMA CITY, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Pilots at Panama's Copa
Airlines  CPA.N  called off a planned strike Thursday morning
after reaching a deal with the company aimed at recovering
purchasing power, the Panamanian Commercial Aviators Union
(UNPAC) said. 
    The pilots union last month said it would launch the strike
on Feb. 2 after an impasse, despite talks that had begun in
October over new contracts.
    The group said the deal, reached hours before the pilots
were slated to walk out, includes benefits and other measures
that will allow pilots to recoup purchasing power losses
sustained during the pandemic.
    Panama's labor ministry mediated talks between the airline
and the union, and said the agreement "promotes the peaceful
labor climate the country needs for its economic recovery." 
    UNPAC's negotiating committee in a statement called the
talks "complex." It said the deal offered "a fair and
sustainable collective agreement with better working and salary
conditions," including benefits for pregnant pilots and pay
hikes for Sunday and holiday shifts.
 (Reporting by Elida Moreno; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing
by Daina Beth Solomon and Jonathan Oatis)
 ((Brendan.OBoyle@thomsonreuters.com;))