SAS Pilots on strike
 

According to the Danish press, SAS pilots at CPH went out on strike at 08.00 this morning. SAS say it is an illegal strike but the advise all passengers to follow information from the internet about which flights are cancelled. According to www.cph.dk most SAS flights are indeed cancelled for this morning. Not a good news week for SAS after a weekend of snow in Scandinavia causing a lot of other cancellations, as well as the bad publicity about flying their "unsafe" Airbusses after delays in mandatory testing due to an administrative error!

Maybe management should have thought of this before signing the war declaration :ok:

Do you really think that it will be the management that will suffer on this strike...?

While in Norway, more than 50 flights have been cancelled due to sick pilots.

Traffic in Sweden is normal.

Knock, knock, Swedes, where are you? The train is leaving now! Your help will be appreciated!

Eastern II... Sanbena.... Swissair... here we go

How big of a risk are these pilots taking while going on strike? It seams that there are lots of pilots who would love working for SAS and if these pilots while striking against the law do they risk getting fired? SAS shouldn't have too much trouble filling in the vacancies created by these pilots if they were to loose their jobs or?

If the SAS pilots did not react now, they would all loose their jobs within a few years anyways. During the 4 years, they have been told to help pushing a car, where the parking brake has been set.

It is not a matter og striking until bankrupcy - it is a desperate attempt to stop a management, which has followed a hidden plan since September 11. 2001. This agenda (Agenda 2000) meticulously describe how to divide and conquer and how to outsource routes to low cost operators in the eastern Europe. The pilots had enough.

If SAS decides to employ scabbers, this will only mean trouble. All other crew members will fly refuse to fly with these. Personally I would never fly with a scab.

It may not be clear from the outside, but it is even more important to organize the pilot forces in unions. Otherwise we will just be a bunch of prostitutes and treated like prostitutes.

Brgds

SE210

They can't be penalized according to danish labour law before the individuals have been on strike for more than 24 working hours. Anyway, I missed dinner in Paris due to SK cnl and that is :mad:

So what sould SAS do? I'm new to this and have only read articles about it but they seldom tell the whole story... =(

Hopefully they are out very soon for breach of contract. SAS has allready annouced a need to rid themselves of 130 pilots - guess these guys/girls have just made that selection so much easier

apioca, occupation: manager!

Hehehehehe, I just love your post man!

Although sympathetic to the cause , I get the eerie feeling that they've picked their final fight, and seem prepared to take down SAS Airline with them. And judging by the SAS management response, they're gonna let them.

This leaves the rest of the group to scavenge the remains of the route structure with repainted airplanes and independent unions flying a franchised SAS Group profile. Lindegaard wins.

While I hope that time will prove me wrong, I think we just witnessed the self-destruction of the SAS Airline pilot.

Wonder which one will be first down the drain, SAS or Alitalia? Unions are again doing their very best to get everyone out of the job....

gynecologist
 

Stick to the profession implied in your name.

To me it does not matter if I am replaced by a 20 year old pilot with 300 hrs, making 2000 euro a month, and with a 3 year bond, or if the company goes bust because i fight this. The result is the same, but I would rather go down fighting while hoping to win.

Vikings seem still to have a problem to sort out things without the major fight. Good luck for both sides.:}

Arrogant!
 

I don't really see the point in the SAS-strike. SAS-pilots once again prove that they think they have a better picture of leading a company than professionel managers. Well of course, every one has the right to have a meaning, but illegal strikes put the pilots in the same box as low-class workers from 1930.

I don't think people in general sympathize with pilots having a monthly salary of more than 10.000€ to go on illegal strike. This is the definition of "stiff upper lip".

Reality now has reached the SAS-pilots. I'm sure they disagree with this viewpoint, but I believe that SAS has a future, just not if everything remains unchanged. For everyday the strike continues they just prove to management that they're not worth cooperating with.

Yes, the future is uncertain. Yes, the pilot job has changed alot. Yes, this is the real world where only the best companies has a right to exist.

Why is the pilots the only group of employers not willing to accept these fundamental changes?

Wake up! :oh:

ScandinavianPilot? Somehow I don't think so. First post?

It would be nice to have some support from fellow pilots, rather than the predictable white noise by wannabes, managers, SLFs and gynecologists.

This is about union busting. It’s about spilt and rule. It’s about repeated violations of our agreement by our management. It’s about complete lack of leadership. It’s about outsourcing of our production. It’s about getting nothing in return for increased production, lower pay, and a dramatic reduction in our T&C. It’s NOT about pay.

Fire 130 pilots more? When we sold 3000 off days last year? When we are transferring MD-90s to Blue1 in Finland? When we are opening new routes from Stockholm to London City (flown by Transwede!)? The only SAS flights not cancelled from CPH yesterday were those operated by Cimber Air!

Its do or die! We cannot continue down the path we have been led the last few years. We KNOW where that’s going to lead us. 300 of our pilots are already on the street!

Wish us luck!

Er, Scandi, it's called standing up for yourself when you've been shafted one too many times. I don't think that they would be too bothered about public opinion at this stage of the game. Good luck to them.

I think that you will need more than luck. However, I assume that your decision to go on strike was not actually by the agreements. Or was it?

I am not privy to the situation in SAS, so I don't know if the strike is justified or not but I have one thing to say to the colleages.

If you really believe this is the best solution to solve the problem for everyone, stand your ground!!

Sure, you may loose your job, but it is easier to work for another airline, and be able to look at oneself in the eyes when shaving in the morning, than to be ashamed not to have had the guts to do something.

Best of luck, guys and girls.

The SAS strike is not an attempt to run the company.

It is damage control.

During the last 4 years, 800 pilot jobs has disappeared from SAS. These jobs have been outsourced to cheaper labour - Finish, Estonian, Spanish etc... pilots. At the same time SAS Airline has been forced to pay for the maintenance and handling costs for these companies. Spanair has only paid 1/3 for maintenance on an MD80 as SAS.

The management, have made a necessary cost reuction of almost 12 billion Danish kroners - they did a good job with this. The company is starting to make money, and prognoses tell of huge profits this year.

However, the company take opportunity to do union busting. The deal of sending the MD90 to Blue1 and then crew them with contract pilots is very provocative. We are not going to accept this.

The pilot job is not that glamorous any more, and we certainly do not want working conditions to deterioate any more.

And Scandinavianpilot - How many times over the last 30 years have the pilots actually went on a strike? To my knowlegde they only had a 2 hour strike two years ago, because the management was trying to screw the pilots in connection with the Braathens merger..Other from that - Nothing. Other labour groups in SAS have had many strikes, but not the pilots.

So therefor, before making stupid statements about the pilots in SAS, you should get your background knowledge rigth. You either sound like a pilot wannabee or a pilot who did not pass the SAS assesment.

Brgds

SE210

A rotten apple?
 

Well, in 7 words you just managed to lose my (and probably most of my collegues) support, SE210. It really amazes me to witness such arrogance. If you're asking for help and support from the remaining pilot unions around this part of the world, perhaps you should choose your words more carefully next time.
It's just sad.

Scando, I sympathise and I understand. I'm tired of all the naive do-gooders' opinions regarding industrial action. There are many people in many industries who are now getting shafted to the maximum - only to see the managers walking off into the sunset with their bonuses, leaving the carnage of their incompetence behind them. It seems to be going the same way where I work. I think we're going to see a lot more industrial unrest in the coming months/years if current management principles remain in force.

To those of you affected by industrial disputes, don't blame the strikers, blame those in charge.

As a pilot with a large British Airline - I am acutely aware of erosion of Terms and Conditions and whole heartedly support those Scandy pilots taking the stance of 'enough is enough' Having been lied to repeatedly over the years by management - I have utmost respect for guys and gals who are prepared to stand up for their way of life and their standard of living. Good luck to you all.

Oh and watch this space!!.....................

I am not here to win a popularity contest - nor to offend people.

However, arrogant statements may cause arrogant replies.

Brgds

SE210

Having been on strike not that long ago I can assure all it is not a decision that is entered into lightly - it is the weapon of last choice. I wish you all the best of luck and remember it is essential to stick together.

As a survivor (with my integrity intact, but my job and my homeland gone) of the 89 pilots dispute in Australia - I can sympathise with the predicament of the SAS pilots.

My advice to you is simple. Take no notice of the criticism you may see here, or elsewhere. Other people do not understand the true nature of your position. They do not understand your dispute. But, hell they talk loud...

You should hope for the best but expect the worst. I have lived abroard now for 16 years now - but I don't regret what we did. At least we tried. Admittedly, we tried and died. But at least we tried.

Outsiders will call you

1. Greedy
2. Arrogant
3. Self-Interested
4. Naive
5. Stupid
6. etc

Don't listen to them. They are themselves ignorant, self-interested, stupid or p*ss-weak.

Good luck to you. I fear for you, but I hope for you. If our colleagues and brethren the world over stood-up as you have, our career might regain some of the lost ground of the past 10 years.

I do not know the background for this strike in detail, and I am sure that there is a good reason for the strike - but I think the SAS pilots should plan this action a bit better, so as not to have the stike have such a negative effect on the innocent passengers that are held as "hostages" in all this.

You need to announce the stike date publicly ahead of time so passenger will have a real option of making alternative travel plans.

This will be an equally powerfull weapon against the management, but with less collateral damage.

Think about the consequences this could have for the innocent passengers, ruined hollidays, missed meetings, lost deals etc.

The timing is really really bad, since Thursday night we had lots of snow/wind and freezing drizzle in Copenhagen, and ther were lots and lots of cancellations over the weekend, with thousands of passegers stranded in CPH. They were all expecting to fly out on Monday now the weather had improved.

But then the pilots went on strike - I understand the pilots, but couldnt they have waited a week - I feel sorry for the passengers.

Strike?
 

This action is about splitting up SAS into three national companies; SASBraathens in Norway, SAS Denmark and SAS Sweden + SAS International (longhaul), thus breaking up the long standing common seniority list the SAS pilots has had for some 50 years+.

I may or may not agree with this, but it is only the Danish pilots that has gone on strike - an illegal strike at that, but still they stand up for their cause. You gotta give them credit for taking responsability for their own actions.

The Norwegian pilots has only called in sick. They will not admit it is a organized effort, and are in my opinion acting as cowardly as the Swedes.

The Swedish pilots aren't doing anything, they're out flying as if nothing is happening in Denmark and Norway, but rest assure they will be there to harvest the fruits of the Danish strike if they get it their way. They are simply acting like Swedes - securing both ways out (like they did in 1940-45).

I do agree with them in one thing. SAS management is arrogant and filled with tons of deadmeat doing what they can to employ themselves. Its in SAS numerous posh offices that money can be saved....not on the flight line.

So spot on freightdog... Swedes where are you ?????? All that is asked for is SAS to stick to mutual agreements.

Doing the right thing?
 

facelac, freightdog, Jack Pot

It´s obvious that you think you are doing the right thing. Even if I don´t agree there is no point in arguing about is. Your ears may be closed (and mouths open).

The passengers are paying your (and mine) salary. To go on a "vild strejk" without prior notice to our pax is:
1. Illegal
2. Tremendous worries to our pax
3. Extreamely bad publicity for the pilotcorps in SAS

Your headman and vice headman pleaded to you mondays to go out fly. You voted for them earlier.

And: Please stop send me sms:es

On Norwegian radio: SAS management has blocked the company phones of those SAS pilots who are union leaders. SAS management has apparently also taken down the company website for the pilots.

The papers write that the ex Braathes (now part of SASBraathens) work as usual, while it's the ex SAS pilots who are reporting that due to the extreme unrest and instability, they are not fit for flight.
They are for example not faking influenza.

In the Norwegian system, an employee can be legally off sick for 3 days on a "egenmelding", a 'self declaration'. After 3 days, the employee has to get a sickie from their regular GP. An employee can be called in to the company medics.

According to a SAS pilot I spoke with today, the crux is that the company has suddenly and without negotiation decided to change the employment contarcts for the pilots. From being employed by SAS international (Danish, Swedish, Norwegian company) SAS now wants to employ their pilots by national entities.

Pilots don't go on stike without extreme provocation! Good luck and don't listen to the ignorant critics on this forum.

Just in "Dagens Nyheter" todays news in sweden that SAS is taking all the pilot organizations to court. They demand that the strike be called illigal and that all the pilots who are on strike go right back to work and aditionally pay an amout of 10'000 SKR (about 1000 Euro). They are also listing all the pilots by name. They are not makeing any difference between if the pilots are danish or norwegian or swedish...

Here's the news in Swedish:
http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.j...usRenderType=6

Pain in the Butt
 

joerkaaff : Unfortunately there is a mentallity among some scandinavians like "ScandinavianPilot". If you can't join them, neighter beat them, hate them!

I wouldn't even call "ScandinavianPilot"'s statement arrogant as SE210. Arrogant is what managment in SAS shows towards the pilots. "Scandinavianpilot" is just having a pain in the butt.

Your strike seems to carry several of the characteristic trademarks our Airline Dispute of 1989 in Australia boreThe companies also declared our tactics unlawful which then gave them the legal grounds on which to apply (successfully) for the cancellation of our current work agreements.
We were ordered to go back to work
The Prime Minister (who was best of mates with Rupert Murdoch, and Peter Abeles - joint owners of Ansett) wanted to JAIL us.
The companies started issuing writs on individual pilots for "unspecified damages", due to flight cancellations on which those pilots were scheduled. Our union was served a $7 million writ, as was each one of the union`s pricipal members. (None of those were ever actioned.)

From that experience, I believe we were not a aggressive as we should have been, in presenting OUR side of the story to ALL the media.
Let the media know HOW the management have shafted you.
Make the salary packages of the management very public.
Hold regular meetings - split into sub groups of say 10 or 12 to help each other out.

Don`t doubt that the company wants ALL of YOU back - this is why they are taking drastic measures now, to try to create a trickle (back) that they hope will turn to a flood.
What they (the companies) still seem have not learnt, is that the more pressure they apply to pilots, the more determined we become in seeing an EQUITABLE solution being achieved.
If a few SAS top management are unable to negotiate with hundreds of their employees, then it is time the few were replaced with people who are.

As a private pilot and sales manager for a large danish medical company I use SAS frequently. Quite frequently to be honest! One of my hobbies are private flying (I actually never dreamed of being a pilot full time, although flying a big jet must be fun) so I also follow the pilot world and SAS with great interest.

The desire from the SAS-management is equivalent to that of many other companies: Large bureaucratic organisations doesn't produce efficient, and they will ultimately die in the competition with other companies producing a smarter way.

As far as I know pilots and other employers in SAS has for long asked for less administration and more clear management. In other words, they would like to get rid of HQ in Stockholm. So why do they as the only group maintain relationship to the HQ, requiring someone to sit in Stockholm to negotiate their deal. Why don't they want a responsible management in their own country? That's how we do in my company, which has offices all over europe.

Well, I had to cancel a meeting in Dusseldorf this week and I'm sure that the pilots are sorry on my behalf. My company has lost several meetings, but it is always incredible that you manage to establish net-meetings instead.

I just don't understand how people with a huge salary go on strike because they as the rest of the world cannot get 100% jobsecurity. I actually think that the company in general will grow smaller much faster, if the administration is not eliminated now!

I really hope that the SAS I know will exist because I actually like the services they provide. And I have always thought that SAS-pilots did a good job. But I must say again, that I find it a bit stiff-upper-lip.

Good luck to all, and sorry if I was to rude to anyone, didn't mean to. Just wanted to express my opinion.

Peter

according to danish wire service ritzau the pilots have decided to start flying again, apparently responding to a threat of each individual pilot being confronted by sas and asked whether s/he is willing to fly. according to a pilot spokesperson this move would indicate a willingness to fire the pilots if they give the "wrong" answer and the pilot union does not want to risk this happening to their members...

Sweden-Norway-Danmark
 

.....er, not quite. You're using the same argument that the useless apartchiks used on us over here in Czecho Laland. Their argument was that Air France pilots get 5 times the average wage in France and we get about 5.2 the average wage over here. Therefore, we must be better off than the Air France pilots. Somehow, my 800 Euros didn't quite inspire me with thoughts of gratefulness as I guzzled my 50 cent beer.
My full support goes to the SAS pilots. How can you possibly put the pressure on management without "taking the traveling public hostage". That's the whole idea. I don't think the traveling public gives a rats ass about my T&C's just as I couldn't care less about what the average widget maker makes.
Final thought. This was a sick out right? How does one get his name published and how does one get to be asked point blank by the company about his ability to fly? If the law allows you three days of grace for being sick, then I personally would make myself extremely scarce for the next 72 hours.