A pilot of a leading Chinese airliner has been staging a rare protest for the past week outside the company's headquarters, demanding that it accept his resignation and release his records to the new employer.
Liu Yang, who is in his 30s and has been a pilot with the Guangzhou-headquartered China Southern Airlines for seven years, has been unable to leave the company despite a court ruling terminated his work contract, the Beijing Youth Daily reported today.
Liu resigned in July last year, but his resignation was rejected by the airline. He subsequently filed a lawsuit against the company.
After two trials, the court decided that Liu should pay 1.68 million yuan (USD 28,000) to cover the cost of his training to the company, so it could transfer Liu's records to his new employer.
But the court lacked the authority to force the company to do so, the report said.
"My new employer was willing to pay the sum, but China Southern didn't transfer my records, so I couldn't go to work for the new company," Liu was quoted as saying by Hong Kong- based South China Morning Post.
"The sum [training payback] is usually taken care of by employers, not individuals. An individual [pilot] couldn't afford such a large amount," he said.
Liu said he discussed the matter with his managers who suggested he resume flying for a certain period before being let go.
He agreed, even though the precise time frame was mentioned. Eventually, he decided to take his campaign outside the company's headquarters in the port city.
China has acute shortage of pilots, who take years to train. Many face difficulties when they try to change their employers, said Zhang Qihuai, an expert on aviation law.
Zhang estimated that between 100 and 200 pilots found themselves in Liu's situation every year, where their resignations are blocked because their airline will not transfer their records.
