Important meetings held in Oslo by US and EU pilot unions
Sorry about somewhat bad translation from Norwegian newspapers, using bing translator. But important meetings in Oslo today. Kjos did not have "time" to meget unions. Govement did.
Trade unions from several countries meet in Oslo to fight against the hiring of Thai Norwegian cabin staff.
The Union tops from the United States and Europe will this week meet politicians and the u.s. Ambassador in Oslo in its fight to stop the Norwegians use of Asian crew on long-haul routes.
-This is a very important issue because it's all about rights in the air, "said Captain Lee Moak, who is Chairman of the American pilot associated ALPA, to the current Business (DN), according to NTB.
Associated sets with ten people during the visit in Norway this week. Also other pilot associations in the United States sets with ten people, including from the world's largest low-cost company, Southwest Airlines. The AFL-CIO, the u.s. professional national organization, also sends representatives to the Oslo, Norway, in an attempt to stop the Norwegians license. European pilot associations, with the European Cockpit Association, at the head, sending a total of 15 people, writes the newspaper.
Norwegian boss, Bjorn Kjos, however, has informed that he did not have the time to meet the envoys.
The trade unions are responding to the fact that Norwegians want to use Asian staff, with lower wages, on routes to the United States and Thailand. This will create a trend that other airlines will follow up, say Mr Netskar.
-In legal terms and in principle we are not delighted Norwegians half creative way of doing intercont airline ops on, "said Jack Netskar, head of the international relations of the Norwegian Pilot federations, told NTB.
Also read: the United States ' trade unionists want to deny Norwegian to fly to the United States
He added that Norwegians procedure has attracted global attention in the pilot world and in the industry.
Netskar thinks this is not about wages, but a fragmentation of civil aviation. It involves over the employees ' competence and the authorities ' ability to take control of the industry, he argues.
-Not T-shirts
This hope that trade union leaders to be able to convince the Government and the Parliament, as well as the European Parliament and the Commission.
"We need to have a discussion with the Government about to get control of this," said Netskar
On Tuesday, meet the pilots, among others, Secretary of State John-Ragnar Aarset (H) from the Ministry of transportation.
"We have to get there go that it is something else to provide the flights than to produce a 3-Pack with T-shirts at the lowest possible price," said Netskar.
Chairman Lee Moak is leading a delegation of 10 people from the American pilot associated ALPA, which arrived in Oslo on Monday.
Also pilot the Association from the world's largest low-cost company, Southwest Airlines, is in Oslo, along with representatives from the AFL-CIO, the u.s. professional national organization. 15 people from the European Cockpit Association also participates.
-In low light
Norwegian Air International hope soon to get the operating permit of the Irish authorities. Then, the US authorities decide whether the Norwegian company to get work in the United States with this permission.
-Considering that Norway is in the world's top when it comes to working conditions, is the fact that the Norwegian will move its operations to Ireland in order to exploit labor, regrettable and put Norway in a bad light, "said Moak to today's business community.
He hoped to meet with Norwegian Chief Executive Bjorn Kjos in the course of the four-day norgesbesøket.
Kjos
But in a response letter, type the Kjos that he on such short notice do not find time to meet with them. He says he would like to discuss the fair conditions in the aviation industry with Moak, but argue that global competition is an important element for a free market in the field of civil aviation.
-I mean no organization should go against these principles, he writes.
He reacts by the way that the Norwegian media should have received an invitation to a meeting between the two in Oslo, before Kjos has accepted, and goes on to say that such a meeting "should not be used by anyone of us to affect or delay" the u.s. Government's treatment of the case.
The airline claims by the way that the Americans ' criticism is really all about that they didn't want competition across the Atlantic.
Common front
But Netskar in the Pilot Association points out that the European and American pilots have a common front against a trend in the industry as none of them can see them served with.
-American and European companies have been in competition with each other for many decades, he points out.
Trade Union leaders with the goal of meeting the Norwegian authorities, other unions, the CONFEDERATION of NORWEGIAN ENTERPRISE aviation and u.s. Ambassador George James Tsunis. They should also meet politicians from the labour party in the Storting.