Before the US election both Sanders and Clinton made statements opposing Norwegian’s race to the bottom scheme. No doubt this was to ensure workers votes. It is ultimately an Obama, workers betrayal. Considering the reaction to the misguided DOT decision, you may expect an uprising of opposition unprecedented in the airline industry. In a press release the Transport Trades Department of the AFL-CIO posted (12/3);
“Given the disgust with our trade policies expressed loudly by American voters on November 8, it is especially galling that the Administration has ignored the wants of the American people in favor of a rogue, foreign airline. We urge Congress to take whatever action is needed to undo this decision and prevent NAI and similar business models from poisoning the trans-Atlantic aviation market”
http://ttd.org/news-and-media/press-...ation-workers/
Southwest Airlines Pilot Association also posted a press release (12/2);
“Captain Weaks noted that the NAI subsidiary and its use of contract workers hired by a foreign staffing agency also poses potential serious safety risks. Crewmembers working under employment contracts with no direct line of communication to airline management often lack the ability to highlight potential safety oroperational issues. Clear and open communication between frontline operators and airline management is critical to running a safe and efficient airline."
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...300372453.html
There are specific examples of the adverse safety affects associated with Norwegian’s labor model, involving extensive use of multi jurisdictional agency crew with no direct employment relationship to the airline. The most publicised being Norwegian's flight DY7006, JFK-ARN. Following an illegal flight across the Atlantic, some of the agency crew were summarily terminated before Norwegian conducted a proper and thorough internal safety investigation, as legislatively required by their AOC. The crew were quickly rehired after the Norway CAA became involved;
“As part of the work the company does, they should carry out all the employees who were involved to conversations and interviews, says CAA operational director - Einar Schjølberg”
http://www.dagbladet.no/2015/02/18/n...gian/37782004/
Of course, “conversations and interviews” are difficult to accomplish when some of the crew were immediately fired and no longer with the airline;
“I was told that I had been fired and the decision had been taken at the very top”
“A week later she suddenly got a new message that she was not dismissed, but suspended with pay while an independent investigation was ongoing”
“Feel exposed to witch-hunt from Kjos from Norwegian argument”
http://www.dagbladet.no/2015/03/03/n...kjos/37978024/
http://www.dagbladet.no/2015/06/23/n...fart/39793427/
A labor model where crew members “feel exposed to a witch-hunt” from the airline CEO, and/or punitive action taken against them after reporting safety concerns, can only be described as abhorrent and should be outlawed. Incidentally, the Captain involved had previously written a letter to the DOT in support of NAI and, to my knowledge, was not summarily terminated.
Norwegian has a history of silencing crew they perceive as critical of the regime;
“Norwegian has kicked [sacked] senior safety representative during strike”
http://www.dagbladet.no/2015/08/07/n...fart/40523738/
Norwegian later agreed to a settlement, however;
“Reprehensible issues came up during the trial on Monday and Tuesday that makes NPU need to see concrete changes of the company”
http://www.dn.no/nyheter/politikkSam...ovedverneombud
The purveyors of Norwegian’s “employment” snake-oil and insatiable consumers of Kjos Kool-Aid are no doubt expecting further sales and licking their lips after the recent DOT decision. But it was only in late July this year that 90% of Norwegian’s Spanish cabin crew surveyed were so disillusioned with their treatment by Norwegian, they were ready to strike;
http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/her-...eider/60311265
Late last year 30% of the 800 Norwegian pilots surveyed were looking for a new job and 75% would not recommend Norwegian as an “employer”;
http://www.dn.no/nyheter/naringsliv/...-nsker--slutte
Even the Norway press refers to Kjos as “The boss and spin doctor”;
http://www.dn.no/meninger/2016/07/08...g-spinneri-ltd
Strong stuff that Norwegian “employment” snake-oil, and may even remove paint – in addition to removing labor rights and labor principles.