Bluebird Cargo lays off all its unionized pilots
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Great news! I see a bit of a parallel (regardless of unions) with Wizz firing pilots last year then this year filling the void mostly with outsiders... these kind of pilots are called scabs Stateside.
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As a fmr. member of a recruitment team i would definitely pass on candidates who were employed/given contract during AND instead of pilots engaged in industrial action or dismissed under questionable terms and conditions/reasons.
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TF OIL. You’re post is unintelligible, I have no idea what you’re trying to say. Pretty much the same for bandana Joe.
Just say what you mean for Crikes sake.
There’s pretty much no side to this, the action taken by the company is reprehensible.
Just say what you mean for Crikes sake.
There’s pretty much no side to this, the action taken by the company is reprehensible.
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Check in.dk and google translate:
This was not the case when the airline chose to lay off its organized pilots and instead hire a number of "self-employed pilots" to take over the work of the contract pilots.
It was illegal when the Icelandic cargo airline Bluebird Nordic shortly before Christmas last year chose to lay off 11 contract pilots, at the same time as the company had hired a number of "independent pilots".
It says a judgment that has just been handed down in the Labor Court in Iceland, in a case between the Icelandic Business Pilots Association (FÍA) and the Association of Icelandic Employers on behalf of Bluebird Nordic.
In the middle of the wage negotiations at the end of last year, all Bluebird Nordic's organized pilots were fired. Subsequently, the airline announced that in future it would only employ "self-employed pilots".
Fired and employees
"The fact of the matter is that a fast-growing Icelandic airline fired all its pilots, who were union members, only weeks after hiring a similar number of fake self-employed contractors," said Jón Þór Þorvaldsson, chairman of the FÍA, in a comment to dommen.
"This was done despite the fact that the collective agreement between the parties contained a provision on the preferential rights of FÍA members to work for Bluebird, which the court confirmed was still valid, as the Court of Appeal has previously ruled," he continues.
The pilots call the victory important. Not just for themselves, but for all unions in Iceland.
"It is important for trade unions, supervisory authorities and the government, which all fight against false independent companies," says Jón Þór Þorvaldsson.
A cheaper solution
According to the pilots, the ruling from the Icelandic labor law will set a precedent that it is not allowed to dismiss employees who work under a collective agreement and instead employ the so-called false self-employed at a significantly lower salary.
Some companies hire fake self-employed people instead of hiring them as employees. In this way, companies do not have to pay wages during illness, holiday pay and pension, for example.
The Icelandic case draws threads to Denmark. In the spring, the Aviation Industry Personnel Union (FPU) suspected Bluebird of using the method with the “fake” self-employed at the base in Denmark. The union sent a conflict warning, after which Bluebird chose to close its base in Copenhagen.
Owned by Cypriot company
Since January 2020, Bluebird Nordic has been owned by Avia Solutions Group, headquartered in Cyprus. The company operates on the basis of a commercial operating license issued by the civil aviation authorities of Iceland.
This was not the case when the airline chose to lay off its organized pilots and instead hire a number of "self-employed pilots" to take over the work of the contract pilots.
It was illegal when the Icelandic cargo airline Bluebird Nordic shortly before Christmas last year chose to lay off 11 contract pilots, at the same time as the company had hired a number of "independent pilots".
It says a judgment that has just been handed down in the Labor Court in Iceland, in a case between the Icelandic Business Pilots Association (FÍA) and the Association of Icelandic Employers on behalf of Bluebird Nordic.
In the middle of the wage negotiations at the end of last year, all Bluebird Nordic's organized pilots were fired. Subsequently, the airline announced that in future it would only employ "self-employed pilots".
Fired and employees
"The fact of the matter is that a fast-growing Icelandic airline fired all its pilots, who were union members, only weeks after hiring a similar number of fake self-employed contractors," said Jón Þór Þorvaldsson, chairman of the FÍA, in a comment to dommen.
"This was done despite the fact that the collective agreement between the parties contained a provision on the preferential rights of FÍA members to work for Bluebird, which the court confirmed was still valid, as the Court of Appeal has previously ruled," he continues.
The pilots call the victory important. Not just for themselves, but for all unions in Iceland.
"It is important for trade unions, supervisory authorities and the government, which all fight against false independent companies," says Jón Þór Þorvaldsson.
A cheaper solution
According to the pilots, the ruling from the Icelandic labor law will set a precedent that it is not allowed to dismiss employees who work under a collective agreement and instead employ the so-called false self-employed at a significantly lower salary.
Some companies hire fake self-employed people instead of hiring them as employees. In this way, companies do not have to pay wages during illness, holiday pay and pension, for example.
The Icelandic case draws threads to Denmark. In the spring, the Aviation Industry Personnel Union (FPU) suspected Bluebird of using the method with the “fake” self-employed at the base in Denmark. The union sent a conflict warning, after which Bluebird chose to close its base in Copenhagen.
Owned by Cypriot company
Since January 2020, Bluebird Nordic has been owned by Avia Solutions Group, headquartered in Cyprus. The company operates on the basis of a commercial operating license issued by the civil aviation authorities of Iceland.
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Stay away from them, abusive behaviour towards pilots and fake self-employed contract
You don’t get a contract, you’re a service provider and even though this type of contact is already banned in Europe as it’s ilegal it’s the only one they are offering.
The company has reduced the amount of days off from 9 to 7. If you still want 9 days off per month then you have to refuse taking holidays during the whole year. This has been changed unilaterally without any explanation. It’s hard to believe I know, but the company is all run by new management that doesn’t care about pilots. They can change your base without respecting any notice and they expect you to move to your new base from day to night.
The block hours is very low BUT with the roster it’s imposible to keep your self in good shape. You don’t get enough rest, all can change from night to day. They call you on days off, there is a total lack of ethics from the management side. The amount of pressure and stress is imposible to handle as you never have anything clear of what to expect for your month, week or even day.
Lot of taxis in the middle of the night to cover gaps in productions. You can start your duty at 01.00 in the morning flying from A to B, then taking a 2 hours taxi in the middle of the night from B to C and then another flying duty again from C to D. Easily 10 hours duty in total because of their lack of crew and resources. It’s crazy but that’s what it is.
Floating contracts were also removed from day to night without even respecting the notice for that.
They don’t release a real roster, what they’re basically doing is to release a roster full of “blank days” and then they use those blank days in order to change all your duties without any notice. It’s imposible to plan anything or have any sort of life. Sometimes they’re changing already past blank days to off so you end up waisting your off days.
Bases are random and are also unstable.
The pay is low compared to all other cargo companies.
The SOPs are weak, the maintenance of the planes is very poor. Lot of issues happening in the line. Recent depressurisation with an emergency descent in a plane that had been reported several times from the pilots. Everything ended badly for BlueBird and Amazon is not considering them reliable anymore. Let’s see what happens but they’re far from success when it comes to customers.
Most of their pilots are looking for other jobs but according to BlueBird they just don’t care and they’re in control of the situation.
Avoid attending to their assessment unless you don’t have anything else.
The company has reduced the amount of days off from 9 to 7. If you still want 9 days off per month then you have to refuse taking holidays during the whole year. This has been changed unilaterally without any explanation. It’s hard to believe I know, but the company is all run by new management that doesn’t care about pilots. They can change your base without respecting any notice and they expect you to move to your new base from day to night.
The block hours is very low BUT with the roster it’s imposible to keep your self in good shape. You don’t get enough rest, all can change from night to day. They call you on days off, there is a total lack of ethics from the management side. The amount of pressure and stress is imposible to handle as you never have anything clear of what to expect for your month, week or even day.
Lot of taxis in the middle of the night to cover gaps in productions. You can start your duty at 01.00 in the morning flying from A to B, then taking a 2 hours taxi in the middle of the night from B to C and then another flying duty again from C to D. Easily 10 hours duty in total because of their lack of crew and resources. It’s crazy but that’s what it is.
Floating contracts were also removed from day to night without even respecting the notice for that.
They don’t release a real roster, what they’re basically doing is to release a roster full of “blank days” and then they use those blank days in order to change all your duties without any notice. It’s imposible to plan anything or have any sort of life. Sometimes they’re changing already past blank days to off so you end up waisting your off days.
Bases are random and are also unstable.
The pay is low compared to all other cargo companies.
The SOPs are weak, the maintenance of the planes is very poor. Lot of issues happening in the line. Recent depressurisation with an emergency descent in a plane that had been reported several times from the pilots. Everything ended badly for BlueBird and Amazon is not considering them reliable anymore. Let’s see what happens but they’re far from success when it comes to customers.
Most of their pilots are looking for other jobs but according to BlueBird they just don’t care and they’re in control of the situation.
Avoid attending to their assessment unless you don’t have anything else.
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Since the majority of European airlines are garbage these days, there's no point in discussing which one is the biggest crap. However, I'm still interested in finding out their bases.
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I’ve heard its BRU, Leipzig, MXP, CGN and maybe Paris. But I don’t think it matters. You will be thrown around.
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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This is from september 2022
Monthly fee
Captain:
Basic fee: €6400 per month*, from start of line training
Additional (per diem): €1000 (fixed) per month, from start of line training
Training fee: €50 per training day.
*up to 75 block hours. When 75 hours are exceeded, an additional fee is involved.
First Officer:
Basic fee: €4500 per month*
Additional (per diem): €1000 (fixed) per month, from start of line training
Training fee: €50 per training day.
*up to 75 block hours. When 75 hours per month is exceeded, an additional fee is involved.
Accomodation
• The Client provides suitable accommodation unless if the Client’s operational base is the same
as the Individual’s Nearest International Airport (NIA) or if the Individual lives within 60
kilometres of the assigned operational base. Suitable accommodation can be provided upon
request to prevent excessive fatigue in accordance with the Fatigue Risk Management System
principles.
• Any damage caused by the individual to the accommodation provided by the client (incl. lost
keys) will be covered by the Individual.
•
Travel
• The Client arranges all travel from/to the Nearest International Airport (NIA) (ref Schedule One)
for duty purposes and whilst in training, unless the NIA of the individual and the client
operational base are the same.
• All non-duty travel costs will be borne by the individual.
• The Individual will be responsible for their own transport to the NIA, regardless of the client’s
operational base.
Roster
• Roster Pattern 20 on / 10 off
• Travel to and from base is done on your off days
Monthly fee
Captain:
Basic fee: €6400 per month*, from start of line training
Additional (per diem): €1000 (fixed) per month, from start of line training
Training fee: €50 per training day.
*up to 75 block hours. When 75 hours are exceeded, an additional fee is involved.
First Officer:
Basic fee: €4500 per month*
Additional (per diem): €1000 (fixed) per month, from start of line training
Training fee: €50 per training day.
*up to 75 block hours. When 75 hours per month is exceeded, an additional fee is involved.
Accomodation
• The Client provides suitable accommodation unless if the Client’s operational base is the same
as the Individual’s Nearest International Airport (NIA) or if the Individual lives within 60
kilometres of the assigned operational base. Suitable accommodation can be provided upon
request to prevent excessive fatigue in accordance with the Fatigue Risk Management System
principles.
• Any damage caused by the individual to the accommodation provided by the client (incl. lost
keys) will be covered by the Individual.
•
Travel
• The Client arranges all travel from/to the Nearest International Airport (NIA) (ref Schedule One)
for duty purposes and whilst in training, unless the NIA of the individual and the client
operational base are the same.
• All non-duty travel costs will be borne by the individual.
• The Individual will be responsible for their own transport to the NIA, regardless of the client’s
operational base.
Roster
• Roster Pattern 20 on / 10 off
• Travel to and from base is done on your off days
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Would appreciate some insights of what the life is like at bluebird recently - besides from the relatively low untaxed b2b salary. From whats been said here, it doesn't sound too exciting.
Only half a speed-brake
Are the quoted September rates 1000(cp) and 2500(fo) higher compared to ASG summer ACMI Baltic ops?
The latter being Airbus of course, still, perhaps this suggests the pool of expired pilots is emptied by now.
Take home at 75 hours seems to be on par with RYR, using their own invented 2b2 taxation rules. Sure, there is more to work compensation apart from the cash flow.
The latter being Airbus of course, still, perhaps this suggests the pool of expired pilots is emptied by now.
Take home at 75 hours seems to be on par with RYR, using their own invented 2b2 taxation rules. Sure, there is more to work compensation apart from the cash flow.
Last edited by FlightDetent; 29th Sep 2022 at 06:55.
