Iberia to Lose 4500 jobs - 25 airframes

[Aporrizaje]

We are ok with permanent changes to be competitive with whoever.
We have been making negotiable offers in this direction for two years.
As one of IB's reps confessed to SEPLA's leader(Justo Peral), "i was ordered to NOT reach an agreement,no matter what".

This whole deal is orchestrated as an unfriendly take-over,with union busting strategies that have been tried and proven in the US for decades.
Take no prisoners,show no mercy,divide,darken the results,throw the money into the effort like you didn't care.

In contrast to the few BA pilots in this forum who are pointing the finger at SEPLA for not caving in is the quietly supportive,cautious attitude of BALPA in this affair.Just in case.

[Count Niemantznarr]

"As one of IB's reps confessed to SEPLA's leader(Justo Peral), "i was ordered to NOT reach an agreement,no matter what".

This whole deal is orchestrated as an unfriendly take-over,with union busting strategies that have been tried and proven in the US for decades.
Take no prisoners,show no mercy,divide,darken the results,throw the money into the effort like you didn't care."

Well its deja vu all over again. As you can see Aporrizaje, as in the BA cabin crew dispute, it was not about saving money.

But you are right to cast aspersions on the rather lukewarm support SEPLA has received from BALPA, and further proof from the lackies posting here that BA pilots are still in Walsh's pocket. That is of course until he turns on them, which he will do. Then the screeching, wailing and gnashing of teeth will begin, and I for one will sit back and enjoy the show.

[blimey]

CN, WW et al

On your way, nothing for you to see here. This thread is about workers losing their livelyhoods and how best to prevent it. It's not about you, not about reliving perceived past glories, not about stirring up old emnities. You add nothing of any worth to the debate.

[Juan Tugoh]

Apporizaje

I understand that the unions have now also agreed to the mediators plans.

I hope that your fears that the deal is a bad one are unfounded, and truly hope that IB can start to recover.

[Aporrizaje]

SEPLA (100%Pilots),STAVLA(33% CCrew,largest of 5) and CTA (?% groundcrew) have refused to sign.Several smaller ground unions were not asked.

Even though we have not signed and even though it is a "non-binding mediation" Iberia is allready applying the measures to all employees.Industrial action is,as of now,considered illegal and punishable by inmediate firing by IB.

Sanchez-Lozano has allready announced that the lay-offs proposed in the mediation will not be enough,there will be more.Same goes for the salary cuts/increased productivity.Lots more coming soon.

We will soon have record breaking 300 employee per airplane,IBxpress and Vueling keep getting fatter on IB's flights while IB gives them technical maintenance,handling and leased aircraft at rock bottom prices.

Textbook,really.

[airsmiles]

IBxpress and Vueling keep getting fatter on IB's flights while IB gives them technical maintenance,handling and leased aircraft at rock bottom prices.

Let me think about this from another angle.

Iberia, who are making massive losses, would need to have scaled back it's flights and would therefore have too many aircraft. These excess aircraft have been leased out rather than being parked somewhere. It doesn't matter who they were leased out to.

Iberia Express and Vueling are getting fatter because they're leaner and have a lower cost base, so can make a profit operating the same routes. Iberia get the income from maintenance, which helps to pay for a large fixed cost. Presumably the handling income is at least 'at cost' or better still at a profit, so that helps Iberia also.

There's no such thing as "Iberia's flights". Everything airline has to compete with other airlines and no operator has a divine right to its network.

If Iberia Express and Vueling weren't there someone else would. Perhaps Air Europa, Ryanair or Easyjet. It's makes no difference to the fact Iberia was ripe for restructuring in order to stand a chance to survive in the long term.

The medicine is hard to swallow and I really feel for the employees, but there is no other way forward than to create a new leaner Iberia.

[Aporrizaje]

If we used to make that flight,if the flight number still is IBxxxx,and it is sold through IB's web as IB flight operated by... then i'd say it is our production,taken away.
But hey ,maybe i'm wrong and you are right.Maybe Ryanair can show up tomorrow in Heathrow and sell tickets for BA coded flights just like that,it is a brave new world huh?.

If you take away production before reducing workforce ( and this has been going on for two years) your numbers are going to get worse and worse.It does not take an MBA to grasp this concept.You don't lose weight by removing your vitals,cuz you die.

I'm outta here again for a spell.I really don't want to say something i'll regret later.I'm great at sticking both feet in my mouth

[Wirbelsturm]

If we used to make that flight,if the flight number still is IBxxxx,and it is sold through IB's web as IB flight operated by... then i'd say it is our production,taken away.

I understand your frustration but these things need to be looked at in a very business orientated way.

For example a route operated by a carrier may not return suitable revenues when compared to the same route operated by another carrier with a substantially reduced cost base.

Revenue generated per passenger mile is subject to a multitude of variables which equate to the aircraft operating cost per passenger mile. If the operating costs of one carrier exceed the revenue generated then the route operates at a loss. Unless the operating costs can be reduced the route will lose money. Operating the same route with reduced operating costs (aircraft lease, fuels, oils, catering, cleaning, Cabin Crew, flight crew, navigation fees, landing fee, airport taxes etc. etc. etc.) where the passenger/cargo revenue exceeds the operating costs and the route makes a profit.

Hence giving loss making routes to a 'cost low' solution makes business sense. If the changes at Iberia allow those routes to be operated in profit then perhaps they will be re-instated, somehow I doubt it. IB is obviously concentrating on primary revenue routes, including cargo, and dropping loss making routes on short/medium haul where the LoCo competition is making revenue generation difficult.

By reducing the workforce, the wage bill, the aircraft leasing costs etc. IB stands a chance of making a profit from those primary routes. It needs to start from a solid foundation though.

[airsmiles]

If we used to make that flight,if the flight number still is IBxxxx,and it is sold through IB's web as IB flight operated by... then i'd say it is our production,taken away

I'm happy to be corrected on this but here goes.

Iberia flights are prefixed IBE. If we take Iberia Express as an example, their flights are operated and marketed with IBS flight numbers. Similarly Vueling operates and markets under VLG flight numbers.

Apart from Oneworld codeshare partners, which airline(s) are operating/marketing as Iberia with IBE flight numbers? What routes?

[4468]

Rafael Sánchez-Lozano has stepped down as CEO of Iberia, and from the IAG board.

Replaced immediately by Luis Gallego, currently CEO of Iberia’s subsidiary Iberia Express.

[AtomKraft]

Well, there's a step for a hint.

[Omnipresent]

Be under no illusion whose hand is in this! Willie Walsh is forever praising Iberia Express.

[cldrvr]

IAG increased its bid for Vueling by 32% to 9.25e per share, however they are only aiming for 50.1% ownership. Shareprices jumped to 9.25 as soon as the news came out.

[4468]

Mr Gallego “has extensive experience across a range of international airlines” that includes Vueling, the Spanish low-cost carrier.

And

IAG increases its offer for Vueling

IAG has increased its offer for Spanish carrier Vueling Airlines to €9.25 per share, up from the previous offer of €7 per share.

IAG already owns 46 per cent of Vueling through Iberia, and is now seeking to gain a controlling stake of the airline.

IAG simply looking for a further 4.1%??

[Jimmy Hoffa Rocks]

IAG refuses agreement between Iberia and its pilots

Rumour has it.

Iberia´s CEO Luis Gallego came to an agreement with its pilots SEPLA Iberia.
Willie Walsh has refused the deal.

This Willie Walsh is something else.

Maintaining a conflictive stance and forcing Iberia pilots into a corner.
The strategy of Willie Walsh is clearly not working. With Iberia´s losses mounting.

Has someone not explained to Willie Walsh what ¨ win-win¨ means ?

The shareholders will one day wake up.

There are many things that pissed off Captains can do. These things are covered up, delays, AOG´s, etc,etc.

[Jockster]

The time for win-win has gone. Iberia will now be totally restructured. New T&Cs akin to Vuelling etc.

[km5]

Not akin to Vueling, but somewhere in between if anything is to survive

[kick the tires]

There are many things that pissed off Captains can do. These things are covered up, delays, AOG´s, etc,etc.

Like taxiing around MAD at 10 kts?

Oh, wait a minute, you've been doing that for years, all to no avail!

The losses were mounting well before WW came on the scene.