Question about Norwegian Contracts
 

Could someone actually working for a Norwegian-outfit give an answer, to the best of their knowledge, to the following:

1. What are the different Norwegian outfits at the moment (NAI, NAN, NAS) and callsigns?
2. Is there only one agency, e.g. OSM, providing pilots to Norwegian, unless you're core?
3. Are the contracts local, in compliance with local labour laws and policies?
4. If you're hired by an agency, what happens if you're sick short-term?
5. If hired by an agency, what happens if you are sick long-term. Any insurance in place on top of local welfare system?
6. If hired by an agency and loose your medical, any loss of license in place to give you a chance to restructure your life?
7. If hired by an agency, any pension contribution from the company on top of local welfare system?
8. If hired by an agency and you are to have children will they, without discussion, allow you the maternity/paternity leave that you're entitled to under the policies of the country in which you're based or live in?

Thanks in advance if you could help me get these things straight. I am not considering applying, just trying to get a better understanding of what reality is like. Flying life can be pretty challenging, even with good support from the company. I am interested to know how much of this 'support' is left in the wake of legacy carriers, in more 'modern' brands where most perks have been reduced to the size of nothing.

Not working for Norwegian but have researched a little so will try to answer what came up:

1. What are the different Norwegian outfits at the moment (NAI, NAN, NAS) and callsigns?
NAS - Original Norwegian Air Shuttle AOC, in Norway, 787's currently on this AOC, NAX/DY, "Northshuttle"

NAN - Norwegian Air Norway - New AOC in Norway for future purposes (may replace NAS AOC), NAX/DY, ?"Northshuttle"?

NAI - Norwegian Air International, Irish AOC, Currently most 737's based there, IBK/D8, "Nortrans"

NUK - Norwegian Air UK, British AOC, apparently 787's will be moved here also.

NAA - Norwegian Air Argentine, pure speculation but looks like something is in progress.


2. Is there only one agency, e.g. OSM, providing pilots to Norwegian, unless you're core?

No. Initially you deal with Rishworth (Sweden). Rishworth have created a subsidiary in the UK called "Global Crew UK" which will offer you a 3 year contract and be your employer.
After three years you are "moved" to another company called OSM UK (affiliated with Norwegian Air) and get a new contract which is (maybe) unlimited. The OSM contract is better (65h overtime threshold, loss of license, parttime availabl according to company needs etc...).


3. Are the contracts local, in compliance with local labour laws and policies?

I can only speak for the 787. Yes, Global Crew UK is a "normal" UK employer in front of the law. You are employed and social security/taxes are applied.

4. If you're hired by an agency, what happens if you're sick short-term?

Rishworth/Global Crew pay for private health care insurance, sick pay for 1 month. Additionally there is an insurance in case of "loss of income". Do not know more details about that.

5. If hired by an agency, what happens if you are sick long-term. Any insurance in place on top of local welfare system?

See above.

6. If hired by an agency and loose your medical, any loss of license in place to give you a chance to restructure your life?

Not with Global Crew, I've heard OSM provide LOL.

7. If hired by an agency, any pension contribution from the company on top of local welfare system?

There is a minimum required in the UK (1%?). OSM contract features 5% (word of mouth info only).

8. If hired by an agency and you are to have children will they, without discussion, allow you the maternity/paternity leave that you're entitled to under the policies of the country in which you're based or live in?

Probably yes as it is part of employment law in the UK. Wouldn't "experiment" too much with labour laws when on a time limited contract.

Most people I've spoken to are happy on the 787, good bunch of people, fun at work. But they all also emphasize that the working conditions have to improve!

I think 172 that you will be waiting a long time for the answers to these and that probably because we can guess the answers.

737 or 787 would help?

Was mainly thinking 73, but if different for the 78 contracts I am interested to hear.

I have an idea about the answers yes, but is once and for all trying eradicate any guesswork on my side. Q5,6 and 7 are likely to be no, no and no. Q1 and 2 should be straightforward. Q3 I am really curiuous about, and that may be the key to Q4 and 8. As, where I come from, it's law and indisputable.

Has anyone visited the UK subsidiary and company offices of the respective business to attend an interview or for work related matters?

Global Crew UK has a registered address as a solicitor’s office in Ipswich and listed as an “employment placement agency” – link:

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09543804

Similarly, OSM Aviation Management UK Ltd has a registered address in London and is also listed as an “employment placement agency”. There are 27 companies “operating” from the same address – link:

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09462762

“Norwegian family” members are required to sign a clause in their 3-year fixed term, staffing agency contract, that they have “no employment relationship with the client airline” renting their services. The clause indemnifies the airline from any obligations, responsibilities and liabilities as an employer in any dispute(s).

UK Citizens Advice provides information for agency workers/family members - link:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wo...-need-to-know/

1. NAN (Norwegian Air Norway) covers the operation in Norway, and until the end of the year the ARN base, callsign NORSHUTTLE (NOT NorTHshuttle, the country is called Norway not Northway!). NAS covers the long haul operation and the NAS AOC will eventually be closed with NAS (Norwegian Air Shuttle) becoming a holding company for all individual AOC's, callsign NORSHUTTLE. The US and Caribbean operation also operates on the NAS AOC (737). NAI (Norwegian Air International) is the AOC for all European bases outside of Norway and is based in Ireland, callsign NORTRANS. NUK (Norwegian Air UK) only has 1 B738 based at LGW on the AOC at the moment and nobody really knows what the plan is at this stage, callsign NORWORLD. The operation in Argentina is being set up as we speak and at present there is no further info.

2. 'Core' does not exist anymore! The Scandinavian bases are covered by agency contracts in either Pilot Services Norway, Sweden or Denmark as applicable under the old K-area (''core'') CLA. A recent court case in Norway has however determined that Norwegian is the real employer. All other B737 bases are either on OSM contracts or Norwegian Air Resources (NAR) Spain, Italy, etc. Long haul crew start initially on fixed term Rishworth contracts and this is then superseded by a permanent OSM contract after a number of years (unsure of the timeframe).

3. All contracts are local and comply with all local laws, rules and regulations both in terms of taxation and social insurance contributions and with the exception of the Rishworth contracts, are permanent in nature.

4. The OSM contracts state that before statutory welfare applies, you will receive full basic pay for 30 days. However, some people that have been on long term sick leave have been paid fully throughout despite what it says in the contract.

5. see above. OSM UK offers private health insurance through BUPA as part of the CLA, however other countries do not have this.

6. Yes, LoL cover up to €200k is arranged and paid for by OSM.

7. Yes, but not everywhere. In Scandinavia, the defined contribution pension scheme is fairly good by today's standards, OSM UK offers 5%, all other countries do not have a pension scheme in place.

8. Yes, local employment laws at base apply, so if UK based, provisions under UK labour law apply.

Thank you all for the contributions, clarifies a lot. The deal doesn't sound too bad (relatively speaking, as always..) though a tad concerning that they have put the whole lot through an agency. If they can return you at any point (as I presume is theoretically possible..?) it removes the workers' negotiation power. Understandable if you're serving your time as a well paid mercenary in East Asia, not if you base your life and lifestyle around the job.