25-31/10/2018 Aviapartner strike at Brussels Airport

[Passenger]

Still no agreement ...

Thus time to adjust the title into 25-26-27-28-29/10/2018

[luchtzak]

Spontaneous strike at Aviapartner: the conciliation to the FPS employment failed, according to the CGSLB.

[Darjeeling]

It's time for Laurent Levaux (president Aviapartner Belgium) to go. He clearly isn't competent at all. Maybe it's time for a more Flemish/Northern European style management.

Let me laugh and I hope you are kidding on this one... REALLY. There is no more gesta*** - flemish style company operating out of BRU than Aviapartner (ex Flemish nationalist Belgavia).
It's the Flemish way of management that is put into question for the last 18 years... SN, SNBA, FlightCare, Swissport, Aviapartner, Brussels Airport --> they all have been symbols of mediocrity and incompetence.

Go and spread your deep "vlaams" frustration elsewhere.

[luchtzak]

Already five flights cancelled for tomorrow.

[luchtzak]

Strike to continue on Monday!

[Homo Aeroportus]

Maybe time to have a look at the global picture.

According to ASA, Airport Services Association, the global ground handling market is estimated to be over $60 billion. €70-90 billion according to a 2016 study to DG MOVE European Commission.

In a world where cash money is plenty and return is low from conventional ways (interest rates, stock exchange), buying a company is an attractive opportunity. Especially in a market that is to continue seeing annual growth of 5% for the foreseeable future.
Big potential to make money; cut the fat and milk the cow, then pump it up and resell to the next one who is interested in a company having high revenues, he will manage better and turn a profit for sure.

Examples (numbers are from a 2015 presentation):

WFS, Worldwide Flight Services, operates at more than 120 airports in 20 countries, has a turnover of about €600 million, 12000 workers.
2001 : Acquired by Vinci Group.
2006 : Sold to LBO France, a Private Equity firm.
2015 : Sold to Platinum Equity, USA.

SwissPort : the largest GH company worldwide, serving airlines at more than 270 stations in 48 countries with an operating revenue of CHF 3.00 billion and a workforce of 55000.
First purchased by the British private equity firm Candover Investments, then sold in 2005 to Ferrovial.
In 2010, Ferrovial sold Swissport for €654 million to the French private equity firm PAI Partners.
In 2015 China's HNA Group acquired Swissport for $2.81 billion.

At the holding company level the shareholders want a two-digit return or else,
at operational level the manager struggles to achieve the goal with the least possible assets to keep his bonus,
the Airline threatens not to renew the handling contract if fees are not lower because passengers are driven by low fares.

So who gives a damn about the Rampie who breaks his back loading bags in the hold of a 73 or the RedCap who runs between stands because he must handle 2 flights simultaneously?

Personally I have never been in favour of a strike, whether I am directly impacted or not, but one should consider the global picture to understand that this GH business is going nowhere with this model.


And btw isn’t Safety First the motto in our industry?
Well for as long as I can buy a cheap ticket and my flight leaves on time of course.


H.A.

[luchtzak]

Luk De Wilde: no response from Minister of Mobility Francois Bellot and BAC chairman Marc Descheemaecker over continuing Aviapartner strike and heavily damaged image of Brussels Airport.

[Passenger]

Strike to continue on Monday!

Yesterday I have posted pricewaterhouseCoopers' professional comment as company revisor on the annual account 2017: there is no way for Aviapartner to survive, unless the external sources continue with their financial support and unless the recovery plan succeeds.

After five days of strike, it's obvious that the recovery plan cannot be realized. A sad end for the legacy of Mr Verougstraete (the older generation here knows we always called him "mister Verougstraete", never "Alex").

[luchtzak]

Our Sunday evening item on the current airport crisis:

The Aviapartner strike at Brussels Airport will enter day five on Monday, it's still uncertain when the handling agent will resume its operations.

https://www.aviation24.be/ground-handli ... on-monday/

[luchtzak]

Luk De Wilde tweeted that the other handling agent Swissport was also on the brink of a strike but that strike was called off after negotiations with Swissport management.

[TLspotting]

Luk De Wilde tweeted that the other handling agent Swissport was also on the brink of a strike but that strike was called off after negotiations with Swissport management.

I'm heading to Warsaw tomorrow... Huh mayday?

[luchtzak]

I'm heading to Warsaw tomorrow... Huh mayday?

Have you completely read https://www.aviation24.be/ground-handli ... on-monday/ ?

If you are travelling with LOT or SN there isn't a single worry!

https://www.brusselsairport.be/en/passe ... w&iata=WAW

[Vic Diesel]

Our Sunday evening item on the current airport crisis:

The Aviapartner strike at Brussels Airport will enter day five on Monday, it's still uncertain when the handling agent will resume its operations.

https://www.aviation24.be/ground-handli ... on-monday/

As someone already wrote: "I don't condone wildcat strikes..." - just that I won't continue with a "but". A wildcat strike is a wildcat strike: condemnable. Period. What regards working conditions of workers and all the things that are going wrong at Aviapartner: the workers made their point - continuation of the strike won't help a bit. It would just drive the financially already damaged company into total oblivion. If they want to end up unemployed (and with having screwed over thousands of travellers), please do so - but then don't expect endless sympathy for that!

[b720]

Our Sunday evening item on the current airport crisis:

The Aviapartner strike at Brussels Airport will enter day five on Monday, it's still uncertain when the handling agent will resume its operations.

https://www.aviation24.be/ground-handli ... on-monday/

As someone already wrote: "I don't condone wildcat strikes..." - just that I won't continue with a "but". A wildcat strike is a wildcat strike: condemnable. Period. What regards working conditions of workers and all the things that are going wrong at Aviapartner: the workers made their point - continuation of the strike won't help a bit. It would just drive the financially already damaged company into total oblivion. If they want to end up unemployed (and with having screwed over thousands of travellers), please do so - but then don't expect endless sympathy for that!

Well said

And ZERO sympathy.

Their employer will go bust and they will end up with nothing! Not much sympathy from anyone then..

[gumblebee]

Their employer will go bust and they will end up with nothing! Not much sympathy from anyone then..

This strike might well end up putting Aviapartner out of its misery, true. Aviapartner customers will still need a handling partner however, and fast. A new handling partner can negotiate new contracts, hopefully at a more realistic pricing level. Most people will keep their jobs. Airplanes will still need to be handled, and there will still be a need for staff with the right knowledge and experience.

[lumumba]

Our Sunday evening item on the current airport crisis:

The Aviapartner strike at Brussels Airport will enter day five on Monday, it's still uncertain when the handling agent will resume its operations.

https://www.aviation24.be/ground-handli ... on-monday/

As someone already wrote: "I don't condone wildcat strikes..." - just that I won't continue with a "but". A wildcat strike is a wildcat strike: condemnable. Period. What regards working conditions of workers and all the things that are going wrong at Aviapartner: the workers made their point - continuation of the strike won't help a bit. It would just drive the financially already damaged company into total oblivion. If they want to end up unemployed (and with having screwed over thousands of travellers), please do so - but then don't expect endless sympathy for that!

They will not stay unemployed,they will find a job very fast in better condition at that level it's not a problem we are missing this type of profile.
If they act like that it's also because there are years of frustration....
And they cheated so long with them that now it's enough I have the impression you don't want to understand that!

[Vic Diesel]

And they cheated so long with them that now it's enough I have the impression you don't want to understand that!

Nope, I don't want to be forced to have sympathy with a wildcat strike of whatever kind. It's against the law. Period.

[Passenger]

...
...I have the impression you don't want to understand that!
...

Lumumba, maybe almost all other people here are right? Maybe it's just you who don't want to understand what is going on?

Cumulated loss on 31st December 2017: -24.334.941 €. Do you understand what that means?

[CTBke]

And they cheated so long with them that now it's enough I have the impression you don't want to understand that!

Nope, I don't want to be forced to have sympathy with a wildcat strike of whatever kind. It's against the law. Period.

In Belgium it's not against the law, it's the grey zone and everyone has the right to go on strike

http://www.werk.belgie.be/defaultTab.aspx?id=518#
http://www.emploi.belgique.be/defaultTab.aspx?id=518

[flightlover]

...
...I have the impression you don't want to understand that!
...

Lumumba, maybe almost all other people here are right? Maybe it's just you who don't want to understand what is going on?

Cumulated loss on 31st December 2017: -24.334.941 €. Do you understand what that means?

That someone was not paying attention at the bottom line when negotiating contracts with airlines???

Except for strikes, workers have no direct impact on the financial situation of a company.