Colombia's Avianca, pilots seek salary deal to normalize service

Pilots flying for Colombian airline Avianca are seeking a negotiated pay increase that would allow the airline to return to normal operations after many pilots last week stopped working overtime hours, officials said Tuesday. The Organization of Avianca Aviators (ODEAA), the union representing nearly half of Avianca's pilots, has ruled out a full strike for now and agreed with the airline to extend negotiations for 20 days. "If there's no agreement, the zero overtime will continue," ODEAA President Jose Maria Jaimes said. Jaimes said that 750 pilots grouped in the ODEAA demand that their salaries be equivalent to those paid to pilots at other Latin American airlines - or as much as $11,500 a month, up from $6,000 with Avianca. The ODEAA-represented pilots argue that a new government tax reform, which began in January, has also cut into their salaries. Avianca, which said it will extend its dialogue with the union, has offered a 7.25% pay increase - above the country's 2016 inflation rate of 5.75% - but ruled out leveling of salaries against other regional airlines. "Our salary structure is not determined by the best-paid country in the region, but rather it must take into account the purchasing power of each country where we operate, as is done in any global company," Avianca said. <br/>