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ANALYSIS: Europe's pilots fight for control
Industrial action played havoc with operations at Air France and Lufthansa over recent weeks as pilots revolted against
legacy carriers' cost-cutting plans.
legacy carriers' cost-cutting plans.
But the battle between management and their best-paid employees
isabout more than wages and working terms: it is about control and
staff influence on the carrier's future direction.
isabout more than wages and working terms: it is about control and
staff influence on the carrier's future direction.
Airlines carefully select flightcrew to ensure that passengers and
aircraft are in the hands of high-calibre individuals who remain
cool-headed, stick to the book and, crucially, do not give up in
critical situations. But as that determination naturally extends
beyond the cockpit, executives have a fight on their hands when
pilots perceive their working environment to be under threat.
aircraft are in the hands of high-calibre individuals who remain
cool-headed, stick to the book and, crucially, do not give up in
critical situations. But as that determination naturally extends
beyond the cockpit, executives have a fight on their hands when
pilots perceive their working environment to be under threat.
Pilots and management at Air France and at Lufthansa
and its wholly owned subsidiaries AustrianAirlines and Swiss
International Air Lines are deeply entrenched about the future
flightpath of their respective carriers.
and its wholly owned subsidiaries AustrianAirlines and Swiss
International Air Lines are deeply entrenched about the future
flightpath of their respective carriers.
For management, the aim is to please investors and shareholders,
and improve balance sheets, amid the threat from younger, leaner
competitors in both the short- and long-haul arena. Executives are
trying to circumnavigate pilots' long-standing working terms by
transferring operations to lower-cost subsidiaries, and thus force
the employees to change.
and improve balance sheets, amid the threat from younger, leaner
competitors in both the short- and long-haul arena. Executives are
trying to circumnavigate pilots' long-standing working terms by
transferring operations to lower-cost subsidiaries, and thus force
the employees to change.
Meanwhile, pilots are retaliating with strikes and legal action to
avoid fragmentation of their workforce and loss of privileges, much
of which date back to the pre-liberalisation era of state-owned flag
carriers.
avoid fragmentation of their workforce and loss of privileges, much
of which date back to the pre-liberalisation era of state-owned flag
carriers.
Air France pilots began industrial action in mid-September over the
parent's expansion plans for low-cost subsidiary Transavia. Air France-
KLM was seeking to build up Transavia as a pan-European budget
airline with bases outside France and the Netherlands to compete
with thoroughbred low-cost carriers such as EasyJet and Ryanair.
But the group adjusted the plan soon after the start of the crippling
strike – which, it said, was causing daily operating losses of up to
€20 million ($25 million), with "catastrophic consequences" for the
company and its financial position.
parent's expansion plans for low-cost subsidiary Transavia. Air France-
KLM was seeking to build up Transavia as a pan-European budget
airline with bases outside France and the Netherlands to compete
with thoroughbred low-cost carriers such as EasyJet and Ryanair.
But the group adjusted the plan soon after the start of the crippling
strike – which, it said, was causing daily operating losses of up to
€20 million ($25 million), with "catastrophic consequences" for the
company and its financial position.
Rex Features
Air France pilots protesting outside the French
Parliament in September
Parliament in September
Now, Air France-KLM wants to build up the French Transavia
division instead, under what it terms a "made-in-France
solution" rather than developing the unit outside France
and the Netherlands. But pilot unions remain opposed to
that move, because it would mean wider employment of
flightcrews on terms outside the mainline labour agreements.
division instead, under what it terms a "made-in-France
solution" rather than developing the unit outside France
and the Netherlands. But pilot unions remain opposed to
that move, because it would mean wider employment of
flightcrews on terms outside the mainline labour agreements.
Air France-KLM argues that Transavia France "can only
develop under economic conditions that are compatible
with the low-cost model". Any single labour agreement for
pilots would "totally oppose the principle of this [low-cost]
model", particularly if such a deal were "under Air France
conditions", the group says.
develop under economic conditions that are compatible
with the low-cost model". Any single labour agreement for
pilots would "totally oppose the principle of this [low-cost]
model", particularly if such a deal were "under Air France
conditions", the group says.
After two weeks of industrial action, French pilot union SNPL
halted the strike at the end of September. But no agreement
had been reached with Air France-KLM, and another pilot
union, SPAF, said it would continue the walkouts.
halted the strike at the end of September. But no agreement
had been reached with Air France-KLM, and another pilot
union, SPAF, said it would continue the walkouts.
Meanwhile in Germany, Lufthansa has decided to use
external pilots for its planned low-cost, long-haul sub-fleet of
Airbus A340-300s under the mainline brand. Up to 14
aircraft of the widebody type are to be employed with a
denser cabin configuration – with no first class and a smaller
business class – on low-yield routes aimed at leisure
travellers. While management was able to agree cost
cuts with its flight attendants, catering arm, maintenance
division and other stakeholders, it claims that no such deal
was possible with flightcrew. So, while the cabin crew will
comprise Lufthansa employees, the aircraft are set to be
flown by pilots from outside the airline.
external pilots for its planned low-cost, long-haul sub-fleet of
Airbus A340-300s under the mainline brand. Up to 14
aircraft of the widebody type are to be employed with a
denser cabin configuration – with no first class and a smaller
business class – on low-yield routes aimed at leisure
travellers. While management was able to agree cost
cuts with its flight attendants, catering arm, maintenance
division and other stakeholders, it claims that no such deal
was possible with flightcrew. So, while the cabin crew will
comprise Lufthansa employees, the aircraft are set to be
flown by pilots from outside the airline.
When the plans were revealed in July, Lufthansa Group
chief executive Carsten Spohr said management would
consider wet-lease options if targeted savings could not
be agreed within the airline. Sources familiar with the plans
have meanwhile confirmed that Lufthansa is evaluating
a wet-lease arrangement with Swiss charter operator
PrivatAir for the A340s.
chief executive Carsten Spohr said management would
consider wet-lease options if targeted savings could not
be agreed within the airline. Sources familiar with the plans
have meanwhile confirmed that Lufthansa is evaluating
a wet-lease arrangement with Swiss charter operator
PrivatAir for the A340s.
The decision is the latest episode in a dispute which has been
simmering for years between management and German union
Vereinigung Cockpit. The last collective labour agreement for
the pilots expired in 2012, and has since remained in place as
no follow-up deal could be agreed. But the conflict escalated
in December 2013 when Lufthansa terminated a transitional
pay agreement covering wages if pilots retired early due to
medical reasons. This led to a three-day strike in early April
and multiple walkouts in August and September.
simmering for years between management and German union
Vereinigung Cockpit. The last collective labour agreement for
the pilots expired in 2012, and has since remained in place as
no follow-up deal could be agreed. But the conflict escalated
in December 2013 when Lufthansa terminated a transitional
pay agreement covering wages if pilots retired early due to
medical reasons. This led to a three-day strike in early April
and multiple walkouts in August and September.
Lufthansa wants to move from the traditional company-
funded system to an employee-financed scheme, and raise
the age threshold – at which pilots become eligible for early
retirement – from 55 to 60 years. The airline says it is
willing to negotiate a compromise and has proposed a
stepped approach for the existing workforce. But pilots taken
on since January 2014 are to be excluded from the deal.
funded system to an employee-financed scheme, and raise
the age threshold – at which pilots become eligible for early
retirement – from 55 to 60 years. The airline says it is
willing to negotiate a compromise and has proposed a
stepped approach for the existing workforce. But pilots taken
on since January 2014 are to be excluded from the deal.
While the union briefly returned to the negotiating table after
the stepped-approach offer, the conflict goes deeper than
a disagreement about benefit levels and retirement-age
hresholds. The absence of a single arrangement for the entire
cockpit workforce was a key reason for the union to
reject the deal. "Lufthansa management continues to
refuse a unified transitional pay agreement and demands a
division of the pilots into three classes," says
Vereinigung Cockpit. Apart from differentiating between
existing and new staff members, the stepped approach would,
argues the union, penalise employees who have worked part
time, such as female pilots who reduced their working hours
to support their families.
the stepped-approach offer, the conflict goes deeper than
a disagreement about benefit levels and retirement-age
hresholds. The absence of a single arrangement for the entire
cockpit workforce was a key reason for the union to
reject the deal. "Lufthansa management continues to
refuse a unified transitional pay agreement and demands a
division of the pilots into three classes," says
Vereinigung Cockpit. Apart from differentiating between
existing and new staff members, the stepped approach would,
argues the union, penalise employees who have worked part
time, such as female pilots who reduced their working hours
to support their families.
Pilots and flight attendants at Austrian Airlines gained a
legal advantage in September when the European Court
of Justice ruled in their favour over management's
unilateral cancellation of a collective bargaining agreement
two years ago. When the Lufthansa subsidiary failed to reach
a labour deal with its crew members in 2012, management
transferred all the relevant aircraft and employees to lower-
cost regional arm Tyrolean Airways.
legal advantage in September when the European Court
of Justice ruled in their favour over management's
unilateral cancellation of a collective bargaining agreement
two years ago. When the Lufthansa subsidiary failed to reach
a labour deal with its crew members in 2012, management
transferred all the relevant aircraft and employees to lower-
cost regional arm Tyrolean Airways.
While the controversial move did not lead to a reduction
in pay levels, it was especially aimed at slowing statutory
wage increases under the previous agreement, Austrian
said at the time. But the transfer also covered productivity
rises and pension cuts.
in pay levels, it was especially aimed at slowing statutory
wage increases under the previous agreement, Austrian
said at the time. But the transfer also covered productivity
rises and pension cuts.
Now, management is aiming for an out-of-court
settlement after the ECJ ruled that conditions in Austrian's
former labour agreement should be honoured until a new
contract had been reached with the employees. The final
ruling has yet to be made by Austria's supreme court,
but is likely to follow the ECJ judgement as the national
court had asked the European institution for advice.
Separately, aVienna court is assessing the legality of the
transfer to Tyrolean in 2012.
settlement after the ECJ ruled that conditions in Austrian's
former labour agreement should be honoured until a new
contract had been reached with the employees. The final
ruling has yet to be made by Austria's supreme court,
but is likely to follow the ECJ judgement as the national
court had asked the European institution for advice.
Separately, aVienna court is assessing the legality of the
transfer to Tyrolean in 2012.
Meanwhile, Austrian is preparing what it terms "alternative
scenarios" in case it cannot reach a settlement with
mployees that is satisfactory to the airline. Chief
executive Jaan Albrecht says that "ultimately, the
judgment handed down [by the ECJ] in Luxembourg makes
it difficult for us to defend our position as a quality airline
against the competition".
scenarios" in case it cannot reach a settlement with
mployees that is satisfactory to the airline. Chief
executive Jaan Albrecht says that "ultimately, the
judgment handed down [by the ECJ] in Luxembourg makes
it difficult for us to defend our position as a quality airline
against the competition".
Nevertheless, that ruling has encouraged Swiss's mainline
pilots to start legal action. After the Lufthansa Group
carrier was unable to negotiate agreement on future working
terms with the mainline pilots, management decided to
assign its on-order Boeing 777s – due to join the fleet
n early 2016 – to the airline's regional arm.
pilots to start legal action. After the Lufthansa Group
carrier was unable to negotiate agreement on future working
terms with the mainline pilots, management decided to
assign its on-order Boeing 777s – due to join the fleet
n early 2016 – to the airline's regional arm.
Pilots at the two divisions are represented by separate
unions: Aeropers for the mainline, and IPG for the regional
operations. All three parties had aimed to reach a deal
whereby the two pilot corps would be merged into a single
unit, but the airline signed a labour contract only with IPG.
Aeropers says the trilateral agreement failed because
management tried to use the settlement to introduce
additional cost cuts.
unions: Aeropers for the mainline, and IPG for the regional
operations. All three parties had aimed to reach a deal
whereby the two pilot corps would be merged into a single
unit, but the airline signed a labour contract only with IPG.
Aeropers says the trilateral agreement failed because
management tried to use the settlement to introduce
additional cost cuts.
Now, Aeropers has resorted to litigation because, it says,
Swiss's "German management" has breached several
contractual obligations in the existing mainline labour
agreement, including duties to continue negotiations and
permit employee participation in matters such as the 777
introduction. The union argues that "outsourcing" of parts
of the long-haul operation is not permissible under the
current contract.
Swiss's "German management" has breached several
contractual obligations in the existing mainline labour
agreement, including duties to continue negotiations and
permit employee participation in matters such as the 777
introduction. The union argues that "outsourcing" of parts
of the long-haul operation is not permissible under the
current contract.
Swiss has decided to terminate that deal at its earliest
possible expiry date in November 2016 because, it says, the
differences with Aeropers "on the key issues" are
"irreconcilable".
possible expiry date in November 2016 because, it says, the
differences with Aeropers "on the key issues" are
"irreconcilable".
Perhaps the airline's management eventually decided
that having separate pilot workforces with differing terms
and conditions might be conducive to cutting costs.
Oliver Sleath, European airlines analyst at Barclays, suggests
the operators are aiming to undermine the unions' power
and influence by building up internal competition: "Lower cost
units within a legacy [airline] can help to incentivise
savings at the mainline carrier. If employees are not
willing to adapt, investment and growth opportunities will be
directed elsewhere. But it is always a power struggle between
management and unions."
that having separate pilot workforces with differing terms
and conditions might be conducive to cutting costs.
Oliver Sleath, European airlines analyst at Barclays, suggests
the operators are aiming to undermine the unions' power
and influence by building up internal competition: "Lower cost
units within a legacy [airline] can help to incentivise
savings at the mainline carrier. If employees are not
willing to adapt, investment and growth opportunities will be
directed elsewhere. But it is always a power struggle between
management and unions."
Sleath expects that Air France-KLM and Lufthansa Group
will eventually succeed in changing their business models
against union resistance. But he foresees that "they will
shrink in the process" as their loss-making businesses
are gradually eroded away by market forces. Thus the
network airlines will change regardless of whether employees
accept cutbacks in terms and conditions, because passengers
favour carriers with the lowest operating cost base. "It's like
evolution," says Sleath. "You have to adapt or die."
will eventually succeed in changing their business models
against union resistance. But he foresees that "they will
shrink in the process" as their loss-making businesses
are gradually eroded away by market forces. Thus the
network airlines will change regardless of whether employees
accept cutbacks in terms and conditions, because passengers
favour carriers with the lowest operating cost base. "It's like
evolution," says Sleath. "You have to adapt or die."
Management at Air France-KLM and Lufthansa could be
forgiven for looking enviously at IAG and its progress at Iberia.
A long-running dispute over job cuts and efficiency plans
at the Spanish carrier finally ended early this year when a series
of productivity deals were struck with unions. Iberia secured
not only step-change double-digit percentage salary cuts
but also industrial breathing space until 2017, when the deals
expire.
forgiven for looking enviously at IAG and its progress at Iberia.
A long-running dispute over job cuts and efficiency plans
at the Spanish carrier finally ended early this year when a series
of productivity deals were struck with unions. Iberia secured
not only step-change double-digit percentage salary cuts
but also industrial breathing space until 2017, when the deals
expire.
Perhaps a difference here – and also in Italy, where Alitalia has
secured cost-saving labour deals with several of its unions
to facilitate Etihad's investment – has been the spur of the very
obviously difficult economic backdrop. For example, the union and
staff outlook is probably very different in a country with Spain's
high unemployment rate.
secured cost-saving labour deals with several of its unions
to facilitate Etihad's investment – has been the spur of the very
obviously difficult economic backdrop. For example, the union and
staff outlook is probably very different in a country with Spain's
high unemployment rate.
EUROPEAN AIRLINE LABOUR SNAPSHOT
While Air France and Lufthansa have dominated the industrial-
strife headlines, they are far from the only European airlines
to have faced strikes this year, whether from pilots or other labour
groups:
strife headlines, they are far from the only European airlines
to have faced strikes this year, whether from pilots or other labour
groups:
Aer Lingus: The Irish airline scaled back its full-year profits
outlook – though it was later restored, on stronger sales – after
strikes were called by cabin crew in a row over working conditions.
Aer Lingus also remains embroiled in a long-running dispute with
cabin crew over tackling its pension deficit. These talks have now
entered what chief executive Christoph Mueller describes as a
critical stage after recent labour-court recommendations.
outlook – though it was later restored, on stronger sales – after
strikes were called by cabin crew in a row over working conditions.
Aer Lingus also remains embroiled in a long-running dispute with
cabin crew over tackling its pension deficit. These talks have now
entered what chief executive Christoph Mueller describes as a
critical stage after recent labour-court recommendations.
British Airways: The IAG-owned UK carrier has enjoyed a
relatively pain-free industrial relations since ending lengthy dispute
with cabin crew in 2011 and securing cost savings through
introduction of a mixed-fleet cabin crew who fly to a combination
of short and long-haul destinations. But members of the latter
group indicated in June a willingness to consider industrial action,
in a consultative ballot prompted by a dispute over pay and
working conditions. About one-third of the 2,600-strong mixed-fleet
staff are members of Unite, and 95% said they would support future
strike action if formally balloted by the union.
relatively pain-free industrial relations since ending lengthy dispute
with cabin crew in 2011 and securing cost savings through
introduction of a mixed-fleet cabin crew who fly to a combination
of short and long-haul destinations. But members of the latter
group indicated in June a willingness to consider industrial action,
in a consultative ballot prompted by a dispute over pay and
working conditions. About one-third of the 2,600-strong mixed-fleet
staff are members of Unite, and 95% said they would support future
strike action if formally balloted by the union.
Czech Airlines: The SkyTeam carrier has faced disruption from
cabin crew after detailing plans to cut around 280 staff – around a
third of the total – as a result of phasing out its Airbus A320
operations this winter.
cabin crew after detailing plans to cut around 280 staff – around a
third of the total – as a result of phasing out its Airbus A320
operations this winter.
Finnair: The Oneworld airline began outsourcing cabin crew for
some flights after failing to secure concessions from the union
representing its own flight attendants. It did, however, in September
reach a tentative cost-saving deal with pilots.
some flights after failing to secure concessions from the union
representing its own flight attendants. It did, however, in September
reach a tentative cost-saving deal with pilots.
Icelandair: The Icelandic carrier faced strike threats from
pilots, cabin crew and maintenance personnel during May and
cited industrial action as having hit its second-quarter financial
performance.
pilots, cabin crew and maintenance personnel during May and
cited industrial action as having hit its second-quarter financial
performance.
Meridiana: After facing industrial action in June over restructuring
plans, the Italian airline last month initiated procedures to cut over
1,600 jobs as it presses ahead with a restructuring plan under which
it is to move to an all-Boeing fleet by the end of next year.
plans, the Italian airline last month initiated procedures to cut over
1,600 jobs as it presses ahead with a restructuring plan under which
it is to move to an all-Boeing fleet by the end of next year.
Norwegian: Cabin crew at the Scandinavian low-cost carrier called
strike action in May in a dispute over pay and conditions before a
new collective deal was reached later that month.
strike action in May in a dispute over pay and conditions before a
new collective deal was reached later that month.
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