Air France: war between management and pilots

[airazurxtror]

La guerre est désormais déclarée entre le principal syndicat de pilotes d'Air France, le SNPL, et la direction de la compagnie. Air France vient en effet d'engager un recours en référé contre le syndicat majoritaire chez les pilotes pour non respect des engagements pris dans le cadre du plan Transform 2015.

Le plan de restructuration de la compagnie déclenché en 2012 prévoyait que chaque catégorie de personnel (personnels au sol, personnels navigants commerciaux et pilotes) réalise 20% de gains de productivité en 2015.
Or, contrairement aux autres catégories de personnel, les pilotes auraient atteint seulement 12% de «gain économique». Un niveau très inférieur aux personnels au sol qui ont dépassé les 20% prévus et aux hôtesses et stewards qui s'approchaient de l'objectif à la fin de l'année 2014 soit 200 millions sur les 224 millions visés.
Les représentants des personnels avaient publiquement dénoncé le comportement des pilotes lors de leur grève en septembre dernier.
«Les discussions avec le SNPL sont infructueuses, souligne aujourd'hui un cadre de la compagnie. Nous allons donc demander au tribunal de prendre une décision sur une clause de l'accord prévoyant qu'en cas de blocage, le président d'Air France tranche».

http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2015/06 ... ilotes.php

The war is now declared between the main pilots' union of Air France, the SNPL, and the direction of the company. Air France has indeed bring an action for interim measures against the SNPL for breach of commitments made under the Transform 2015 plan.

The company's restructuring plan initiated in 2012 provided that each staff category (ground staff, cabin crew and pilots) generates 20% productivity gains in 2015.
Contrary to the other categories, pilots have reached only 12% of "economic gain". Well below the ground staff that exceeded 20% and the flight attendants who were approaching the goal at the end of 2014.
Staff representatives had publicly denounced the behavior of the pilots during their strike last September.

"Discussions with the SNPL are unsuccessful. We will ask the court to make a decision on a clause of the agreement providing that in the event of a deadlock, the president of Air France decides ".

[sn-remember]

It's sad to see the pilots (again ?) are the less responsible among the workforce since all other categories have reached (or are in the process of reaching) the agreed upon goals.

[brusselsairlinesfan]

AF pilots are known for being "une véritable caste" inside the company with a "superior behavior" for some of them!

[sn26567]

AF pilots are known for being "une véritable caste" inside the company with a "superior behavior" for some of them!

... except when they are confronted with a problem like on AF447!

[airazurxtror]

The SNPL criticised its plan for new cost cuts and line closures but said it was "not at war" against the management, indicating no strike plans for now.
"(But) even though Air France is declaring war on its pilots, SNPL AF ALPA is not at war with the management and would prefer to build Air France's future in a manner which shows responsibility to the group's customers."

The immediate adaptation measures include, among other: the closing, as of Winter 2015, of several loss-making routes (Stavanger, Verona, Vigo, Kuala Lumpur), combined with frequency and aircraft size reductions on several other strongly impacted routes (Japan, Brazil, Russia)

[convair]

The immediate adaptation measures include, among other: the closing, as of Winter 2015, of several loss-making routes (Stavanger, Verona, Vigo, Kuala Lumpur), combined with frequency and aircraft size reductions on several other strongly impacted routes (Japan, Brazil, Russia)

The downgrade on the Japan route is a strange decision since ANA is dropping one of its Tokyo flights.

[sn-remember]

As is the downgrade of Rio (GIG)
I would thinkTokio like Rio warrants 2 AF dailies from cdg ...

[sn26567]

The talks between management and the pilots are coming to an end tomorrow (30 Sep) without big hope for a solution.

If the talks fail (which is now more and more likely), there will be massive lay-offs, the fleet will be reduced, 15 long haul destinations closed, and massive strikes expected from the staff.

The future of Air France looks bleak...

[sn26567]

As widely expected, the Air France pilots union SNPL has not accepted the proposals of management, which considers that for an equal pay the AF pilots work 15-20% less than their KL counterparts. AF Management will thus implement plan B: redundancies, suppression of long-haul destinations, fleet reduction, etc.

A national demonstration of pilots will take place on 5 October in Paris, in front of Air France headquarters.

The future of Air France looks bleaker...

[sean1982]

Sad to see that one group of employees is once again prepared to bring a company to its knees because they refuse that the "golden age" has long passed. Shame for te people who DID agree to reach the set goals

(On the other hand, maybe a chance for SN to grow the long haul?)

[sn26567]

The Air France-KLM Board of Directors met today. It mandates Air France Management to implement an alternative restructuring plan (called Plan B as explained in above posts) in order to accelerate recovery.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines_press_r ... -recovery/

[jan_olieslagers]

AF today, LH yesterday, BA tomorrow? When will the pilots realise they need to organise at (at least) a pan-European scale? But, perhaps, some are aware that their present terms and conditions are well above European average..? If so, they can't be expected to announce the fact publicly!

[airazurxtror]

The CEO of Air France -KLM , Alexandre de Juniac , assured Friday that the strike called for Monday by three unions (CGT, FO and Unsa ) would cause " no too significant a disturbance."
"All of our passengers , as always, will be informed " of the developments on Saturday , when the management "will have a more accurate idea of the situation ," said Alexandre de Juniac .

[Conti764]

Sad to see that one group of employees is once again prepared to bring a company to its knees because they refuse that the "golden age" has long passed. Shame for te people who DID agree to reach the set goals

(On the other hand, maybe a chance for SN to grow the long haul?)

It would bring an oportunity for SN, but I doubt AF will go to its knees... It's too big (and important) to fail, no?

If this situation gets any worse, is there a possibility for KL to get out of AFKL? If I'm not mistaken, they are making profits...

[nordikcam]

It would bring an oportunity for SN, but I doubt AF will go to its knees... It's too big (and important) to fail, no?

If this situation gets any worse, is there a possibility for KL to get out of AFKL? If I'm not mistaken, they are making profits...

I agree...wait and see...it's not finished !

[airazurxtror]

Air France is set to slash thousands of jobs and scale back long-haul flights as part of a vast cost-cutting programme, its board announced Thursday.
The cutbacks will include “a reduction of activity by Air France in 2016 and 2017, in order to guarantee the economic objectives and the company's future”, the board said in a statement, with the full details to be presented to the airline’s central committee Monday.
The decision by Air France to enact its “Plan B” restructuring programme followed months of fraught negotiations between the airline and its pilots.

Under Air France’s initial restructuring plan pilots would have been required to spend between 15 and 20 percent more time in the sky but for the same salaries. Unions have said this is the equivalent to six weeks' extra work without pay.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Thursday encouraged both sides to return to the negotiating table, while calling on the pilots to show more flexibility.

Read more :
http://www.france24.com/en/20151002-air ... talks-fail

[sn26567]

If KL pilots accepted to work longer for the same pay, why can't AF pilots accept the same conditions? Culture clash!

And the "six weeks extra work without pay" is laughable: if it's true, they really have long, long holidays!

[RoMax]

It would bring an oportunity for SN, but I doubt AF will go to its knees... It's too big (and important) to fail, no?

If this situation gets any worse, is there a possibility for KL to get out of AFKL? If I'm not mistaken, they are making profits...

Never say a company is too big to fail...examples enough that show you should never believe this. However I think it is indeed highly unlikely France will let AF go down anytime soon.

Regarding KL, they can't really step out themselves as they are not on an equal level. Wat was claimed to be a merger, was more a take-over of KLM by AF (just not by paying money, but by giving shares). The holding Air France - KLM (which in essence is Air France Group) holds 100% of the shares of KLM Group. So if there is no other solution, AF could opt to sell KLM, but not the other way around or with KLM simply stepping out.

[sn26567]

Air France management should give more details about their B Plan on Monday, but some proposals have already leaked.

• 2900 jobs would disappear: 300 pilots, 700 cabin crew and 1900 ground personnel.
• The number of long-haul flights would be cut by 10% and 5 long-haul routes would be cancelled altogether.
• 5 long-haul aircraft would be retired in 2016 and 9 more in 2017.

Several unions have already announced a strike from 5 October, the day on which the B Plan would be submitted to the works council.

Thank you, the pilots!

[sn26567]

Thank you, the pilots!

For historical reasons, Air France pilots on medium-haul routes fly an average of 585 hours per year. The European average is around 700 hours per year and the European Commission has capped the flying time at 900 hours per year, a level reached at some low-cost companies.

The AF pilots are thus very privileged people. By refusing to work a little more for the same pay, they put their company at high risk and they will send other staff and even some pilots to the rows of the unemployed! Many union members of other categories of personnel are very angry at their cockpit colleagues.

A shame!