A pilot’s strike at Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) over pay and working conditions continued for a second day, prompting the cancellation of nearly 700 additional flights. What exactly do pilots want?
The strike, by Danish, Norwegian and Swedish pilots’ unions, began on Friday and has now been extended to at least Sunday. 673 flights were canceled Friday, affecting approximately 72,000 passengers. Facing a stalemate in negotiations, roughly 70% of flights on Saturday and Sunday were also canceled, affecting about the same number of passengers.
SAS is offering free changes or refunds as well as offering to rebook passengers on partner flights, but thousands across Europe and around the world remain stranded.
Why Are Pilots Striking?
Scandinavian Airlines Systems is essentially four companies flying under the SAS banner. There are divisions in Denmark, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden. The three Scandinavian divisions are striking for more pay and more control over work schedule. The Irish division, a tremendous source of controversy which operates about 30% of SAS flights, is not striking.
On the pay front, SAS pilots are seeking an immediate 13% pay raise. The average Scandinavian pilot makes about 93,000 Swedish Krona (~ 9,800 USD) per month.
More importantly though, at least according to pilots, is a battle for working conditions and their security in the company. A union rep told the BBC:
Many SAS pilots have no control over when and how long they have to work. In a worst case scenario, they risk having to work seven weekends in a row.
Thus, key at the bargaining table is designing a new flight bidding system that gives pilot’s more control to choose or decline schedules.
Thirdly, pilots are worried about the growing division in Ireland. Those pilots are paid less for performing essentially the same function. Scandinavian pilots fear that as future hiring is focused in the Irish division, working conditions and pay will continue to erode in Scandinavia.
Meanwhile, SAS contends that a 13% pay raise is simply too much money. It reported a first-quarter loss and faces intense competition from budget carriers like EasyJet and Ryanair. It contends that it cannot profit with the deal pilots are seeking.
CONCLUSION
Tensions are rising as both sides accuse the other of sabotaging discussion. Meanwhile, if this strike extends too much longer SAS will likely forfeit its forecast profit anyway. SAS has set up a special page for flight disruptions here. There, you can check your flight status before heading to the airport.
image: SAS
Who cares about profits? Just squeeze everything out of it till you kill it!
Just like the US, running up the national debt (stealing from future generations) to elevate the lifestyle of the current.
“Many SAS pilots have no control over when and how long they have to work. In a worst case scenario, they risk having to work seven weekends in a row.
Thus, key at the bargaining table is designing a new flight bidding system that gives pilot’s more control to choose or decline schedules.”
Oh the humanity! If I declined a work schedule at my office, the company would decline to keep me employed.
If being an airline pilot is such a horrible, horrible, $117,000 a year “job”, they should resign immediately and go to work in a less stressful environment, or maybe bring their emotional support flamingo on the fight…
The fact you have crap working conditions (and seem not to want to improve them) is not a good reason for the rest of us to want good terms.
In a civilised world workers should be able to get a weekend off more often than 1 in two months in industries that aren’t super heavily weighed to weekend work like retail or bar work.
In the real world, you should ask questions during the interview so you will understand what you are agreeing to before you accept the job.
If the job changes and you are no longer willing to complete your assignments, you should look for a new job instead of whining about how bad work working environment is, and in the process, causing issues for the paying customers, you know, the ones who keep you employed?
No chance for more flying shame then. The Swedes at least can relax and be happy again…