France: Strike by AF pilots June 24-27

Air France pilot unions SNPL, SPAF and ALTER announced late on June 17 they would strike again from June 24-27. They said the decision to go ahead with a new bout of action was made after a meeting with Air France management failed to reach any agreements.

In a statement, the unions said they had put forward new compromise proposals, but the airline refused to make any decisions before the arrival of Air France-KLM’s new chairman and CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac. However, they added, the company wanted to press ahead with outstanding actions from its Transform 2015 turnaround plan immediately.

Janaillac is scheduled to take up the new position when existing chairman and CEO Alexandre de Juniac departs for his new role as IATA’s DG and CEO later this summer.

Air France said it regretted the notice of new strike action. The last four-day round ofwalkouts, which affected around 20% of Air France’s flights, ended June 14 and the carrier said the disruption cost it more than €40 million ($45 million).

It added the pilots had again demanded immediate decisions on the future size of the airline’s fleet and investment plan. Moreover, the pilots were continuing to ask for salary increases and a say in management decisions, an arrangement “found nowhere in the world and incompatible with responsible business management,” Air France said.

http://atwonline.com/labor/air-france-pilot-unions-call-new-strike-june-24-27