Swiss:foreigner work permits

[LeadingEdge]

Been wondering what happens to all the foreigners at Swiss,have their work permits been extended or not?

cheers

[gofer]

Swiss is not being given a single new permit for staff. Those with SR & LX who's permits were still running are still OK.

Understand that any foreigner not resident in Switzerland may find that Swiss can't renew their permit. That means only those with 'C's and unlimited 'B's are fairly safe - as long as they remember to renew their own permits !!!!!

That should mean that the A320 fold-in can be staffed by Swiss Swiss and the MD80's can take their foreigner with them when they go...

[N380UA]

Once you do have a work permit you’re fairly safe. In fact some folks get hired for janitorial work first as this is easy to obtain and as soon as they get the work permit they get them self the job they really want. I’m not sure if SR did the paper work for them or not, in any case as long as you register with the “Fremdenpolizei” as prompted for your renewal you should have no problems.

[gofer]

Not crew since October - they are tightening up something wicked. It's true it help if you have something, reside in CH and what you have is YOUR responsibility to renew (ie: the old lags)

Otherwise ..... for the moment permits are golddust....

You can not believe how many have to D/H to ZRH from BSL to keep the schedules running - no wonder its "no more rent-a-car's only FlugZug and Abo".

:(

[TheDrop]

Is Swiss hireing ? I suppose with the merger - or what it shoud be called - they will have pilots enough - or what ?

I have unrestricted work permit for Switzerland, and no (flying) job at the time being.

Their homepage only talks about cabin crew wanted, no mention of flight crew, so I guess that answers it ...

[pecs]

Currently there 30 to 40 pilots at SWISS(ex Crossair) out of a total of 1800 plus pilots who have B Permits organized by Company. Most of them joined Crossair as direct entry captains in the period 1999 to 2000 on a 2 year limited contract and then signed over to the then new unlimited contract late 2000 or early 2001. The situation has become interesting as these pilots come up to 2 years in the Company. Pilots with B Permit expiring before October 2001 and the Swissair collapse, have been given a 12 month B Permit renewal. For those whose B Permits expired after the collapse the story is different, with most of them getting only 6 month renewals. Since March 2002 there are 12 and 6 month B Permits expiring without any renewals. These foreign pilots are still working and flying at SWISS and living in Switzerland without a Permit to work and live in Switzerland, until the Swiss Authorities and SWISS management decide what to do with these foreigners.

Aeropers(ex Swissair pilots union) is against the employment of these foreigners whereas Swiss Pilots(ex CCP, Crossair pilots union) have indicated they will support the employment of these foreign pilots. SWISS management have indicated that they are trying to convince the Swiss Authorities to change its non-renewal/expulsion policy and meetings/negotiations between the Company and Government continue this month in an attempt to resolve the situation.

Goodluck to these foreigners. They will probably need it, given the number of unemployed Swiss pilots(ex Swissair copilots and now ex Swisswings pilots)on social benefits.