SAS , down the drain?

[Kopeloi]

Anyone ready to place bets which one is first out of business, SAS or Alitalia?
Both pilot unions are doing their best to get their members out of the jobs...

[facelac]

So funny I forgot to laugh. Sad attitude to something that could affect so many people and not at least terms for pilots in the whole region.... but well the ego - flu seems to be widespread nowadays

[OSCAR YANKEE]

Indsigt og viden kan nogen gange være en belastning....
Manglen på samme er det åbenbart også!

Mvh.

[Özcan]

i read about it in the news paper and my friends who are going from ECKH to madrid are pretty worried right now :8

what was the conflict about? the newspaper didn't write more about the count of flights that are planned to cancellation

[OSCAR YANKEE]

As usual a long story, but the bottom line for the Pilots seems to be furloughs and specifically how they are handled (seniority lists.....)
Rgds.

[Techman]

Tjaa, der er dem, der altid makker ret af frygt, for at miste deres job. Og så er der dem, for hvem ret og selvrespekt er mere vigtigt.

Jeg kan godt forstå at det er ubehageligt, endnu en gang, at blive konfronteret med sin egen kuelighed. Men at bruge det som udgangspunkt, for at ønske det værste for dem der tør, er usmageligt.

[Rule Distance Zero]

My opinion is that SAS will face a great difficulties and they have to cease flying on some, mainly long-haul routes. According to my best knowledge destinations as NYC and other East coast ones are in danger to vanish from SAS route map. Even if the load factors on these routes are good, but the structure and huge "non-profitable-part-of-organisation" uses all the gained profits.
Also I wonder why SAS do not enter in Finnair best routings as Helsinki-Far East ones, once the Blue! gets the European connections from Helsinki ready, they might do so, we'll see.

Sorry, I am not able to provide this in any other language.

[JJflyer]

So here we go again... Thread started in english deserves an answer in english. Not all Finns are fluent in the Scandinavian dialects.
Is it a must to degenerate the discussion to the level it has reached now???

JJ

[Maris Otter]

It is probably not very accurate to ask whether SAS will go down the drain, as it is multitude of companys allready. I do not see why SAS Denmark and SAS Sweden should not have a future.
When it comes to SASBraathens, I think the future is pretty bleak. With the Braathens union's most recent move, it is hard to see that this company will ever be able to operate as one unit. Traditionally in the airline industry, scabs are not tolerated. This will not be an exception. The Braathens pilots probably think that they are helping their airline and it's management. But in fact they are achieving the opposite: The last nail in the coffin for the integration process in SASBraathens.

Another interesting subject in this matter, is how these Braathens pilots will be received around the world. Will they be blacklisted?
If I was one of them, I would get out of their union ASAP. Just to save my own skin!

Maris

[OSCAR YANKEE]

Sorry!
What I meant to say was that Kopeloi's remarks were without insight and knowledge, and that makes it tiresome.......
Rgds.

[Betaranger]

I guess SAS didn't fold so I would say Alitalia then.....I'm sure I'll get bashed by the Italians now :ouch: :ouch: :{

Anyways, did the SAS pilots gain anything during these 3 days?

[Northern_Driver]

Sas definately, but only for a while until Air Mexico or Finnair is buying them.

[SK_X]

Alitalia definately first. Then the italian guys might come northbound to apply for crap T&C jobs at SK, cause' SK guys are leaving the ship now. And that is mainly because of a total lack of confidence of the management.

Total income for the whole SAS group is finally going to show black figures, but SK share of production is being cut constantly, contrary to all nice promises from management during the last years. And the management isnt even sorry, they want us to leave. Just plain facts, sorry to say.

SK_X

[Techman]

It is sad to see some people's eagerness to assume the role of cheerleader, every time the management try to erode T&C further.
Perhaps a case of "let's bring everybody down to my level" so they can feel better about their own situation, or perhaps just a case of good old schadenfreude and pettiness.
Either way, it is pathetic.

As I said, der er mus og der er mænd.

P.S. Judging from the PMs I get, there is no shortage of people who understand what I am saying.

[Betaranger]

Mouse or man right? I guess either as long as you achieve what you need to achieve with your actions.

My question still stands, did the pilots at SK gain anything on this?

[Techman]

I realize this is the century of instant gratification, but sometimes you have to take the longer view.

I doubt there was hope of any instant gain behind this action, but the signal value is perhaps of much greater importance. I doubt the resolve of the SK pilots will be questioned by SK management from now on. Well, the resolve of some SK pilots anyway.

And why the hell are we speaking english on a thread about SAS anyway?

[Margarita]

Very kind from you to keep it in english that Finns can follow up. Is it confirmed that SAS is moving MD90's for Blue1 operations? From where the crews come from?

[Techman]

Already the vultures are circling.

Myopia leads to ris til egen røv.

[Rule Distance Zero]

According to my best knowledge Blue1 is about to have 3-4 MD90 aircraft and most probably those planes are from SAS fleet. From where the crews come, I do´'t know but I assume that most of the airlines provide own crews :)
Maybe they need some training captains etc. at the beginning.

[G-buster]

Traditionally in the airline industry, scabs are not tolerated. This will not be an exception. The Braathens pilots probably think that they are helping their airline and it's management. But in fact they are achieving the opposite: The last nail in the coffin for the integration process in SASBraathens.
Another interesting subject in this matter, is how these Braathens pilots will be received around the world. Will they be blacklisted?
If I was one of them, I would get out of their union ASAP. Just to save my own skin!
Maris
Seems like MO really knows what he is talking about.;)
Of course everyone that doesn't see this his way is a scab. That means everyone going to work and doing the job they were hired to do and not supporting an "action" that according to the union doesn't exist. According to MO that means every pilot working for SAS, except for a few "sick" norwegian pilots, are scabs. Or does MO think there is a difference depending on what union a pilot is a member of?
We can all dig out some pretty harse names in this "conflict" but in all seriousness please take a moment and think before you post this kind of accusations next time. :ok:
G-B

[Maris Otter]

Dear G-B
Please accept my apology if I have upset you
Scabs are certainly scabs regardless of union.
My interpretation is of no importance in this matter, but I believe IFALPA has a quite concise definition. You can check with them (provided you are a member, of course).
Maris

[Wiskey]

MO, I can see of your ignorance that you have many years with SAS and close to none experience from working for and together with other airlines. Yours and many of your colleagues attitude is the reason why the pilots with SAS is divided. You need to come to an agreement with all pilots within the SAS Group before you go to actions like we just have witnessed. Without a common base, the management will split and divide. As long a SK-pilots put themselves as superior to everybody else, there will never be solidarity among the pilots (ref. Linjeflyg, SASCommuter, and BU). SAGPA could be this common base, but it needs a lot of work and admittance from all parts.... Yes, the senioritylist is one key-word! Mergers happens every year, but pilots with SAS have messed up theirs every time, and that is one reason this company is history as we know it in a few years.

And MO, if someone works for sick colleagues and their union leader states there is no demonstration going on, he is not a scab!!! Please check with IFALPA....

rgds W.

[Maris Otter]

Thanks Wiskey, I trust you when you refer to IFALPA. As I wrote: my interpretation is of no importance in this matter!

I happen to agree with you that most SAS pilots are a bit out of touch with the rest of the aviation world. I have had my experiences abroad, and believe that those years have been quite beneficial for me.

That does not change the fact that I have no tolerance for the managements present attempt to bust our union. The fact that this is not conceeded upon by ex BU, is to me a mystery; even Norwegian's union supports the SAS pilots.

What I am so incredibaly fed up of hearing, is this mantra of that SAS pilots regard themselves as superior. That seems to be the general perception, and this is certainly based purely on ignorance and envy.

On your statement about seniority lists: With exception of the ex-commuter pilots who went to court, there are no disagreements on the seniority list issue within SAS. All this issues have been settled in agreements where all sides have signed. I would like to add that this is according to my knowledge. Please enlighten me if I am misinformed!

Maris

[md80forum]

According to my best knowledge Blue1 is about to have 3-4 MD90 aircraft and most probably those planes are from SAS fleet. From where the crews come, I do´'t know but I assume that most of the airlines provide own crews :)
Maybe they need some training captains etc. at the beginning.

Word in Helsinki is that Blue1 will use crews from Nordic Leisure.

[Margarita]

That must be bad news for SAS MD90 crews! Obviously something to do with cost cuts.

[jarlerc]

I was asked by a college in SAS to go in and see what was written about the situation in the company these days, and I have a question to most of you posting here. Are you really the opinionated bigots with a fetish for dicussing aviation, or are you members of the aviation comunity, I can read that very few of you are pilots at least not above the PPL level.
Nothing I have read here is informed, and nothing have the slightest relevans for the conflict that goes on in SAS these days.
So a piece of advice to you, try to collect just the bares facts before posting in a professional forum. This was a good forum a few years ago. Now I understand why there are no substantive discussions anymore.
So to all you with opinions based on feelings and diareha of the keyboard... Have a nice life:zzz: :zzz: :zzz:

[Margarita]

Thank you very much for your professional opinion about SAS.

[jarlerc]

This was not my professional opinion about SAS. It was my personal opinion about the posts in this forum. I am not, nor will I ever be a professional at expressing my opinions. I leave that to journalists.
I am however a professional pilot, and I have opinions on how the company I work for are beeing managed. I have stated that subjectiv opinion in another tread. And what are you Margarita, a professional manager. perhaps i SAS??:cool:

[Wiskey]

Jarlerc is just showing the attitude present among the SAS-pilots.
And I am not a PPL...

[jarlerc]

Do not assume things, I have been flying in America, in Holland and for 3 different companies in Scandinavia, and I feel that the way the majority in SAS is treating LIN, ExBU and Ex SC is the biggest problem that group of pilots face, but discussions of and agreements on seniority in mergers are very difficult in all cases. Because there are perceived winners and loosers.
But I agree, to solve the mess around seniority is the key to solve many problems in SAS

[Margarita]

No Jarlerc, I am a professional pilot like you. Been already 35 years.
Just amazed how much damage unions can cause. Longer the unions take to settle for cold laws of economics more suffer it will cause for the members.Times are changed and since succesful arrival of powerful LCC's aviation will never be the same. Travelling public like to go from A to B as cheaply as possible, just like you and me when we are paying from our own pocket. Enjoy the ride....

[jarlerc]

Ok, A proffessional pilot for 35 years, wow thats a long time then. Mybe time to retire and let some of the younger crowd into your seat.
As for unions ruining things then we just agree to disagree I think.
If had a worked for a smart company like South West in the US I could have done without, bit with most of the idiots coming into companies with an Harward MBA and dreams of greatness. I keep my union thank you very much.
It is my considered opinion that no matter what branch of buissness, it is time that the operators took back the power, and put the beancounters where they belong, counting beans. Giving advice. They simply do not have the training to understand operations. They just restructure things, and take up space.
:* :* :* :* :* :* :* :*

[Atlanta-Driver]

Jarlerc says "Ok, A proffessional pilot for 35 years, wow thats a long time then. Mybe time to retire and let some of the younger crowd into your seat"

It is comments like that take what little symphaty was left for the SAS pilots away. Perhaps it is time for you to take a good whiff of what you are showeling? Disagree with the man but that was a cheap shot.

Beancounters, Human Resources etc... That I agree with. They have too much power in today's airlines and frankly most do not have a clue what they are doing. Good old days are gone. A chief pilot that has no control on who's being hired or fired is just an other useless pawn, unfortunately it seems to be the norm these days. SOP's are dictated more and more by economical factors.

Still Unions are not adapting to the changing industry fast enough. They remind me of the old Soviet Union, inlfexible and stiff. Unions are not willing to give in to the economic realities nor to the fact that times have changed. They are stubborny holding to "What it used to be like" rather than trying to figure what it could be like in the future.

Wouldn't it be a good idea for the unions of the major European carriers such as SAS to learn something from the mistakes that has plagued the industry in US? Wouldn't it also be a good idea to have a look at a succesfull relationship that SWA has with it's pilots and unions?

The same play is being shown here in Europe that was run in US, only the actors are different.

[jarlerc]

It was a joke, 35 years a long time.. Irony if you will. And yes it is a good idea to learn from South West, or from Continentals CEO. I am sure there are others to learn alot from.
But good leaders are few and far between, and the Gordaon Gekkos of this world is alive and well. Pilots as a rule, and by the way senioritylists work are very attached to their airline. They do not strike at the drop of a hat, union or no union. But in modern management theory we are nothing but production workers, and they cannot at least not where I work understand that among the pilots are individuals with the resources to be CEO´s. I know several myself, and it is very demanding to be leaders of such a group. You will not get respect just because you are the boss, you have to lead you have to get respect. And most managers I have run up against in my carriere have failed miserably.:{ :{ :{ :{ :{

[Techman]

I would be nice if people would actually aquaint themselves with the facts before posting. It's a lot to ask for I know, but at least give it a try.
Instead it's the same old knee-jerk anti-union mantra repeated over and over again.

"The world has changed", well duh!. Can we have some more meaningless phrases, please.

[heavydane]

Atlanta-D.

Where is it You see that the pilot union at SAS has not understod that the senario has changed?

Is it the major paycut we have taken?
Is it the major increase in productivity?
Is it the changes in our CLA so transfer to LH is on the crew members own time?
Is it all the changes we have proposed with regard to transfers, upgrades etc. beeing tied in with Your base, that management keep saying no to because they want us employed by said base before making the changes?
ETC.?

Or is it our unvillingness to be butt****** by management over an issue that is purely politically motivated and has nothing to do with running the company?

Regards

Heavydane

[Nor-Pilot]

Atlanta driver - you certainly couldn't have put one point in your post better, having the Pilot's and Management 'on-side' is one of the core drivers of any succesful framework - what the unions and management alike seem to forget is the foundations of Industrial Relations doctrine; ie. we are all ACTORS in the I.R. SYSTEM! and therefore continually forging in the manner that the Scandinavian Pilots unions and SAS management have, will in the long run cause more damage to both sides than good.. Partial strategic alignment is possible and we are thereby today gifted with the development of human resource management, a tool which is heavily misunderstood, underutilised and with which implementing a constant adaption and proactive perception by unions will allow them to achieve well beyond present objectives.

I can't honestly blame the Danes for doing what they did and I applaud them for having the courage to do so - however, in future, it may pay to remember entry level tactics ie. that any form of industrial dispute requires rallying of support outside of the immediate environment and by that I mean - get public and other industry bodies aligned with your objective!

jarlerc - last I checked, being in possession of an MBA certainly didn't give me the ability to 'count beans, take up space and restructure things' nor did being in posession of a CPL give me the ability to become an overpaid, whining know-it all - be careful exactly to which fire you add the fuel!

to all flight crew - let's tone down the bean counter rhetoric and actually try and step in and get some action, if we stop throwing stones in our own way, we can learn exactly how these guys perceive the operating environment and manipulate this to get what we want!

;) Nor-Pilot

[dusk2dawn]

Lindegaard appears to be negotiating in public:
Pilotopgør på vej i SAS
Ledelsen i SAS styrer hårdt mod et opgør med selskabets piloter, der i værste tilfælde kan medføre nye strejker.
Jørgen Lindegaard, koncernchef i SAS, holder ufravigeligt fast i, at piloterne skal ansættes i de nationale selskaber, hvor de i dag er ansat i det skandinaviske SAS-konsortie.
Jørgen Lindegaard meddelte torsdag, at piloternes krav medvirker til store tab i SAS Danmark, SAS Sverige og SAS International, som alle kom ud af 2005 med et stort minus
(Børsen 10.2. 2006) (Stand By 10.02.06)

[Nor-Pilot]

Lindegaard appears to be negotiating in public:
(Stand By 10.02.06)

Dusk - thanks for the post!

It is precisely these spin-off's which I was trying to adress in my previous post; the Pilot unions need to circumvent tactics like this by swinging public opinion and using it as leverage to forge a path with management. This is effectively achieved by the union's aggresively working on an efficient PR strategy as a prelude to staging next actions... We need to remember and manipulate the horizontal and vertical elements of this process! Mention it to your fellow crew member and see what they have to say!...

on another note - lets hope to be carrying back some shiny gold souvenirs from excursions to Northern Italy in the next 2 weeks ;)

[Jetavia]

Give him 200 mio. SEK worth to think about... :ok:

[Fokker-Jock]

What does it mean when someone claims that "times have changed" ?

This is a bit confusing to me. We still fly aircraft's from A to B. I'm still in charge of how to do my job. I set the agenda under which terms and conditions I decide is acceptable to do it. Standing up for these T&C's seems to be a problem for some. Why ? Is it because I am concidered as an overpayed slob that doesn't deserve the T&C's I have ? or is it just envy from others with lower T&C's ? If this is how managers of SAS concider the job I'm doing then please just say it out loud. Based on such a statement I would leave SAS in a hartbeat, because there are operators elsewhere that welcomes me with T&C's far better than the ones in SAS. I have no problems with airline managers trying out different structures to get an edge in competition. But if my T&C's is what's driving this company to the ground (I hardly think so) then just say it, so that I can decide whether or not to stay. I will not accept working in an environment that is constantly based on threats of furloughs everytime T&C's are negotiated. If this is what you mean when saying "times have changed" then I'm not going to be a part it. Who will then fly the aircrafts ? The managers ?

Someone recently said that "starting a war against your employees is a war that cannot be won". This is true for two reasons: 1. If the employee choses to leave and nobody is ready to take his place under the new T&C's = you have lost. (This is likely to happend since recruitment takes forever and that pilot shortage seems to be a fact worldwide) 2. If the war escalates into action, no customer is going to chose that airline, once again you've lost (In a much broader sense as well, since there will be no customers to fly even with new guys coming in) . The only way to get anywhere is to work together towards a goal understood and agreed upon by both parties. We know the "goal": A profitable company! WHAT! This is not a goal, it's a necessity for any business. A goal would be to define how a profitable business would look like in the future and then set up way to get there. At the moment I don't know how they see the future. I can only gather from recent events that managers want other companies (eastern european) to take over as much of the business as possible, to force T&C's down. That's fine with me. As long as there are or will be pilot shortage worldwide in the future there are operators that recognize this fact and is hiring at T&C's way better than SAS. I've chosen to leave SAS for exactly this reason. If my services to the company is no longer appreachiated with my current T&C's then that choice is easy.

I don't want to run the company, but I'm entitled to set the T&C's for the services I provide. If the company can't afford them, then someone else can. That is a fact!! And I'm leaving based upon that fact!

[Margarita]

I do understand that time have changed when one compares the old fashion "state owned" airlines and the new wave of LCC operators. Companies like SAS have heavy and expensive overheads all over. LCC operators are mainly simply flying between A & B. You are also right that these operators are now able to offer even better T&C deals in order to get enough pilots for they fast growing business. However, you will usually work harder for your living with them without too much of extra benefits.

One could not even dream of to set up an airline like SAS or other "flag carriers" for todays competitive market. And obviously pilot unions are trying to do their best as long as they can with existing operators. But how long these airlines are able to keep competing is anyone's guess. Aviation start to be a transport job without the glory of the past.

[Fokker-Jock]

In my professional career things haven't changed much. I'm on my 7. year now and I have never seen or experienced the so called glory days. I've only read about it. T&C's incorporate national and international point system that sets a pilot's maximum working time for each day and each week. We're already at that limit. The only thing companies now can do to increase effectiveness is to keep those points building up in the air instead of on ground. There is nothing a pilot can do to influence this as this relates to route structures and crew slings. Since most operators today operate close to these limits the only other thing to increase effectiveness is to lower wages/pensions or to remove unproductive assets. Some of these unproductive assets are needed according to international law NPH's.

What SAS has been doing lately is to resign completely with regard to cut back on the unproductive assets. Instead they have started a race with the unions to cut wages and pensions in order to become profitable. This is in my opinion a big mistake as operators elsewhere can offer better T&C's. What they will end up with is pilots leaving the company in search of better jobs. Then what ? Who's gonna fly the airplanes ? Who's gonna make sure the income is higher than the cost ? An airline is dependent upon their pilots. This fact can never be changed, and for this reason the managements recent move ( Which is in fact only the starting point in lowering the T&C's) disasterous for the company as a whole.

I'm not going to participate in that race, I'm leaving now because I cannot continue to perform my duties in a safe manner when all I think about is whether or not I have a job tomorrow. I can't even sleep properly at nights. Call me weak, call me whining, call me overpaid, but the fact remains that under the current conditions safety is impaired, and I'm not going to face those consequences if the **** hits the fan!

[jarlerc]

Margarita!

Are you reffering to copanies with huge mismanagement such as SAS, or Alitalia, or do you allso think wellrun network carriers like Lufthansa and British Airways will succumb in the race against the LCC´s
I still beleeve there is room for both Mercedes and Lada in the marketplace.
You just have to be good at making the quality car.
But I am certain of one thing, no company be it a LCC or a Network carrier will ever survive in todays competition if the management is not able to have the employees on the same team, sharing the same goal

[Blackcoffeenosugar]

I am more than aware that my few years in airlines have not been glory filled- I have not flown for major carriers and I only fly heavy turboprops- this might be why there is something I missed completly.
Please enlighten me
SAS:
Does sas groupe not make money from SASBraathens, Blue1, Widerøe, AirBaltic, Air Estonia and Spanair?
Is SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden and SAS International in the red?

Did the EU council not pass a law on feb 15th allowing all member states to prowide services in the whole EEC - i.e allowing SAS to use Blue1, Air Estonia and AirBaltic to fly.. Say B737/MD-90/Saab2000/F50 in scandinavia? Provided they put in the same hours- I know even temping security guards at ARN/CPH/OSL are making the same money as captains in these companies. Surely using eastern companies must be "cost saving" ??

If SAS are nationalizing the companies- Why can't they further "cost cut" by splitting up companies to say comprise of a "SAS Sweden Aircraft AB" and a "SAS Sweden Pilots AB" And leasing this back to "SAS Sweden AB"??
Now lets just be outrageous and assume one day "SAS Sweden Pilots AB" becomes to expensive- :oh: "SAS Sweden AB" could hire for example Air Estonia to fly "SAS Sweden Aircrafts"
Now "SAS Sweden Pilots AB" has no income and no activa (equty) it might go bankrupt!??:{
It must have past me by.. Doesn't SAS Groupe still make money??

I must be completly stupid.. I would have thought SAS pilots main consern should be consoledating the pilot unions in the whole SAS groupe and make sure somebody is "covering their backs" I can understand that spending time harrazing X-BU/LIN/SC colleages is fun, but arn't they loosing the war whilst doing so?
Here is a thought- America (USA) never lost a single battle in vietnam - Except the one for public opinion. They did however lose the war.

[dusk2dawn]

Åpent brev fra norske SAS-piloter:
- Flygere er noen fæle folk"
De norske SAS-pilotene tar til motmæle mot det de kaller uthengningen i media. I et brev til kolleger i flybransjen redegjør fagforeningen NSF- for sitt syn på overføring til SAS-selskapene i Danmark, Norge og Sverige, samt for utflagging. Brevet fra SAS-pilotene kan du lese her på boarding.no
Her er brevet fra de norske SAS-pilotene og deres fagforening:
"Kjære kollega i flybransjen.
Som du sikkert har opplevd er det store utfordringer i flybransjen. Den siste tiden har fokus første og fremst vært rettet mot SAS og SAS pilotene. Vi er klar over at alle andre medarbeidergrupper i bransjen også berøres av dette, og at det kommer på toppen av en allerede tøff arbeidssituasjon. Mange er engstelige for at dette får konsekvenser for deres egen arbeidsplass. Dette er meget beklagelig. Vår virksomhet er basert på at alle grupper utfører sitt arbeid sikkert og profesjonelt, i tillit til hverandre. Alle grupper og individer er således like viktige for at produktet skal være sikkert og godt. Vi har tillit til dere.
Piloter er en gruppe det er forholdsvis lett å henge ut i det tabloide media. Det skal vi nok tåle. Vi synes imidlertid saken er prinsipielt viktig for alle parter i vår bransje, og derfor fortjener en mer seriøs framstilling.
Det handler om et anstendig arbeidsliv, basert på gjensidige avtaler og tillit.
Det hele startet med at SAS ledelsen bestemte seg for å bryte et meget sentralt punkt i SAS pilotenes kollektivavtale som omhandler vårt ansettelsesforhold. Dette avtalepunktet er forankret i kollektivavtalen og lokale avtaler. Uansett hva juristene til slutt kommer fram til, er alle de involverte parter fullstendig klar over intensjonene i disse avtalene. Dette var også avgjørende i uravstemmingen for pilotene, som dannet grunnlaget for trepartsavtalen mellom pilotforeningene og SAS, og som igjen var grunnlaget for integreringsprosessen i SAS/Braathens. En pilot bør absolutt være ansatt der hvor driftsmidlene (flyene) eies. Det er vårt eneste forsvar mot utflagging av arbeidsplasser. Et slik ensidig avtalebrudd under fredsplikt, ble derfor oppfattet som et frontalangrep på våre arbeidsplasser. Reaksjonene uteble ikke.
Reaksjon
SAS pilotene har de siste årene hatt et utfordrende forhold til sin arbeidsgiver SAS, og oppdragsgiver SAS/Braathens. Dette har bygget seg opp over tid. Vernetjenesten og HMS har dokumentert et så høyt frustrasjonsnivå og stressnivå blant pilotene, at luftfartstilsynet er orientert om saken. Piloter er som folk flest, og er utsatt for akkurat de samme utfordringene i livet som alle andre. Når det totalt sett oppstår en overbelastning, har vi et spesielt ansvar. Da er det ikke bare en rett, men også en plikt å ikke føre flymaskiner. Dette er hjemlet i luftfartsloven.
Skandinaviske arbeidsplasser skal ha skandinaviske arbeidsbetingelser
Dette handler ikke om særbehandling eller forbedring av arbeidsavtaler. Piloter skal selvfølgelig være like markedstilpasset og kostnadseffektive som andre grupper i samfunnet. Konkurranse mot eksterne aktører er bra. Felles internasjonale arbeidstidsbestemmelser skal sikre en rettferdig konkurranse med akseptable arbeidsvilkår. De ulike aktørene vil ha et fortrinn i operasjoner ut fra sitt eget hjemmemarked, og produksjonen vil således fordeles naturlig mellom lav- og høykost land. Kundene vil få et sikkert og korrekt priset produkt. Produktkvalitet og kostnadseffektivitet vil avgjøre det enkelte selskaps markedsandel, som igjen vil innvirke på avkastning og arbeidsbetingelser. Alle i selskapet vil dra i samme retning for å øke inntjeningen og sikre arbeidsplassene.
Etikk og moral
Enkelte eiere vil nok alltid vurdere muligheten for å øke inntjeningen på operasjoner i et høykostland, ved å innføre lavkostlandenes arbeidsbetingelser. Mange bransjer sliter med aktører som utnytter billig arbeidskraft for å øke fortjenesten, og dermed raserer det norske arbeidsmarkedet. Dette fører kun til berikelse av eierne, og bidrar ikke til økonomisk utjevning mellom landene, som er et av globaliseringens mer edle motiver. Vi har de siste årene opplevd at piloter presses ut av selskapet på grunn av påstått overtallighet. Norske piloter blir ”eksportert” til SAS eide selskaper i Baltikum/Finland, og jobber på Baltiske betingelser i direkte konkurranse med vår hjemlige virksomhet. Dette er en brutalisering av arbeidsmarkedet som få har sett maken til. Det er ingen grunn til å tro noe annet enn at SAS vil forsøke og fortsette denne sosiale dumpingen. En forretningsstruktur hvor driftsmidlene eies sentralt og de ansatte er tilsatt lokalt, åpner for en slik agenda.
Vi vil slåss for våre arbeidsplasser, men håper å forhandle om arbeidsvilkårene
Arbeidslivet, slik vi kjenner det, består av to parter. Arbeidsgiverne ønsker å skape verdier, tjene penger, og gi avkastning til aksjonærene. Arbeidstagerne ønsker å bidra til verdiskapningen, en trygg og god arbeidsplass, og tjene penger til seg og sin familie. Innenfor reglene i arbeidslivet og de rammene markedet tillater, forplikter man seg til en avtale som begge kan leve med. NSF har opp gjennom historien vært en ansvarlig avtalepartner. I 2004 imøtekom vi ledelsens krav, og bidro med kraftige lønnskutt samt betydelig effektivisering av arbeidstidsbestemmelsene. Lønningene er konkurransedyktige og vi er helt opp i mot myndighetenes maksimale grense for arbeidsbelastning. SAS/Braathens kan tjene penger og aksjonærene kan få god avkastning. Å flagge ut arbeidsplasser for å tjene enda mer penger er ikke samfunnsnyttig. Lykkes SAS med sin ”union-busting”, kan den sentrale SAS ledelsen manøvrere uten forpliktende avtaler. SAS kan fritt sjonglere med driftsmidler og kapital mellom sine syv underbruk i konsernet. Dette er en agenda som skaper uholdbare og uforutsigbare betingelser for skandinaviske arbeidstagere.
Vårt krav om konsernansettelse er også et krav om skandinaviske arbeidsplasser.
Kundene må ta støyten
SAS ledelsens forretningsmetoder har lenge vært i søkelyset. Ledelsens splitt og hersk metoder, mangel på konfliktløsning, og lite menneskelige lederstil er også kjent. Mange grupper og individer har måttet lide som følge av dette.
Mange fagforeninger, grupper og enkeltpersoner har vist forståelse, innsikt og uttrykt støtte. Dette varmer, og vi er inderlig og dypt takknemlig. Mange av dere har egne, bitre erfaringer å bygge på. Noen er saklig uenig i vår framstilling. Det er realt, og helt uproblematisk. Noen kan dessverre falle for fristelsen til å utnytte saken til egen fordel. Det kan være korttenkt.
NSF har stor forståelse for den frustrasjon og engstelse denne situasjonen har medført for mange, og vi håper inderlig at ledelsen besinner seg. Hvis SAS velger å gå til frontalangrep på 2400 piloter med passasjerene som gisler, er det fullstendig uansvarlig..
Med håp om en verdig løsning, trygge og gode arbeidsforhold, og skandinaviske arbeidsplasser i skandinavisk luftfart.
Med vennlig hilsen
For Norske SAS-flygeres Forening
Rune Sundland"
::: ... :::

[captaink]

Instead of being

[dusk2dawn]

And a not so good one by SAS management:
SAS afværger konflikt i sidste øjeblik
28. feb. 2006 08.20 DR Penge Opdat.: 28. feb. 2006 08.26

SAS har trukket et brev tilbage, som piloterne skulle have skrevet under inden den 1. marts. Dermed er en konflikt i sidste øjeblik undgået, der kunne have lammet flytrafikken fra onsdag morgen.
Brevet indeholdt en sikkerhedserklæring, som ifølge ledelsen skulle underskrives, når piloterne 1. marts bliver flyttet fra SAS Skandinavien til SAS Danmark. Sikkerhedserklæringen er et myndighedskrav, der er påkrævet for at piloterne må flyve, hedder det i brevet.

Myndigheder tager afstand
Men Statens Luftfartsvæsen vil ikke forbindes med brevet til piloterne, fordi piloterne samtidig skal skrive under på, at de vil opføre sig ordentligt.
- Vi vil ikke tages til indtægt for den del af brevet, hvori det fremgår, at piloterne kan ekskluderes, hvis ikke de opfører sig på en bestemt måde. Myndighederne er - lidt firkantet sagt - ligeglade med, om piloterne møder med velpudsede sko eller ej, siger Torben Jørgensen, chef for operativt kontor hos Statens Luftfartsvæsen til Jyllands-Posten.
Derfor har SAS givet seks til otte ugers dispensation til at få piloternes underskrift på sikkerhedserklæringen.

Tilfredse piloter
Piloterne er glade for, at de slipper for skrive under. En underskrift ville nemlig betyde, at de accepterede, at de var ansat i SAS Danmark og ikke som nu i SAS Skandinavien. Det er netop overflytningen til de nationale selskaber, der førte til en pilotstrejke i januar.
- Det betyder, at ingen tvinges til at skrive under på noget, før vi har fået klarhed over de eventuelle konsekvenser. Og det er kun rimeligt, når der er tale om et bindende dokument, siger Mogens Holgaard, der er formand for Dansk pilotforening.

SAS-ledelsen forventer stadig, at erklæringen bliver underskrevet af piloterne hurtigst muligt. Koncerndirektør i SAS, John Dueholm, vil dog ikke sætte en dato på.

...erklæringen er et myndighedskrav, der er påkrævet for at piloterne må flyve, hedder det .. how about that ?!

[dusk2dawn]

The CAAs bite back :)
Længere frist til SAS
Længere frist til SAS SAS får syv uger ekstra til at få piloternes underskrift på en sikkerhedserklæring.
Det har de skandinaviske luftfartsmyndigheder besluttet. De enkelte piloter skulle ellers have skrevet under senest i dag, hvor det er meningen, at de nationale ansættelser af piloterne skal træde i kraft.
(Stand By / Berlingske Tidende 1.3.2006)