Freedom to SAS long haul pilots!
It is high time for us on the SAS long haul to start acting. So far we have trusted our unions, but I believe the unions are no longer worthy of our confidence.
In the latest and unsuccessful negotiations for a new collective agreement, it became evident that the long haul pilots should take the most of the impact of concessions given to the airline. And what would we get in return? Absolutely nothing! Nothing to compensate the sacrifices for the whole pilot corps.
The unions do not accept that we long haul pilots stay where we are without losing seniority and chances for future command. The result is a continuosly high turnover rate on pilots on our long haul operations, which carries a hefty price tag of training. This is not only expensive for the long haul operations, but also for the three individual SAS airlines in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
In my opinion, we all loose on this system: the airlines due to the high costs; the pilots because of inflexibility and the lack of freedom to choose.
It is time that we long haulers take responsibilty for our own situation.
We deserve our own union!
We deserve our own seniority list!
We deserve the right to determine our own future!
We deserve the right to negotiate our own terms and conditions!
Why should we be forced to do the short haul? In order to give room for the short haul guys to come to us? It would be fair if we made long haul an independent carrier. If you want to join, start at the bottom as a relief pilot and work yourself up. Do not expect to surf straight into the left seat of our Airbuses if you have not paid your dues!
SS