Air France pilots are threatening to go on strike, as reported by FlightGlobal. Nonetheless, it’s not essentially given that you may suppose…
Air France pilots could strike over new authorities guidelines
The SPAF commerce union (Syndicat des Pilotes du groupe Air France), which represents pilots at Air France, is threatening that pilots on the French SkyTeam airline will likely be happening strike on April 15-16, 2024. This strike isn’t as a result of any present labor points between the union and firm, however somewhat as a result of a brand new authorities invoice that’s at the moment into account.
On April 9, 2024, the French parliament is contemplating imposing new restrictions on sure labor teams, whereby strikes could be prohibited over mounted durations, as much as 60 days per yr. Strikes are sometimes timed to maximise the impression they’ve on clients, so the federal government’s purpose is to presumably restrict strikes over the busiest durations, particularly within the transportation sector. I think about that the upcoming Summer season Olympics in Paris might also issue into this.
These new restrictions might apply to the general public transport sector. The union representing Air France pilots says it may well’t settle for these restrictions, which is why a strike is being threatened. The union argues that the brand new proposal confuses public transport and public service, and would relegate the nation to an authoritarian state.
Air France deserves credit score for its labor relations
I don’t carefully comply with labor relations in any respect airways, other than when there are strikes, or when one thing main is within the information. Nonetheless, can we take a second to acknowledge how good labor relations seem like at Air France for the time being, no less than primarily based on the dearth of any strikes involving a scenario between the corporate and work teams?
Again within the day, one Air France work group or one other was on strike at any time when it was a day ending in “y,” whereas I don’t bear in mind the final time we see a strike at Air France. That’s fairly a distinction to what we’ve seen at Lufthansa Group recently.
I’ve lengthy been impressed by Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith’s strategy to labor relations. He did an incredible job negotiating a brand new contract with pilots at Air Canada again within the day, and it appears that evidently he has taken the same strategy with labor teams at Air France (clearly in partnership with Air France CEO Anne Rigail, who has been doing an superior job as nicely).
All too many airline executives take an “us vs. them” strategy to labor, and think about frontline workers because the enemy. Smith, in the meantime, no less than from an outdoor perspective, has taken a way more collaborative of an strategy.
I imply, when he was appointed to his present position, one in all his first orders of enterprise was reducing Air France low price service Joon, and shifting these staff to a extra profitable contract. Distinction that to Lufthansa Group, the place Spohr’s solely ability appears to be establishing new subsidiaries to chop labor prices as a lot as potential. He’s actually not good at rolling out any new premium product, that’s for positive…
Backside line
Air France pilots could also be happening strike later this month for the primary time shortly, and it’s not even as a result of any points with the corporate. Quite, France’s authorities is proposing limits on strikes within the transportation sector, and that’s one thing that Air France pilots aren’t prepared to just accept. In order that they’re threatening to go on strike over strikes, as one does!
What do you make of this potential strike amongst Air France pilots?
