Actions are in the air at Brussels Airlines now that a reconciliation talk about the workload of the cabin crew has broken down. “But it is not the intention to punish the passengers,” the unions appease.
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The unions have been denouncing the excessive workload for cabin crew for several weeks, they say. “Due to a number of changes in the way of planning, they are getting increasingly tougher work schedules that cannot be maintained all summer,” it said in early August. In recent weeks, union members have been distributing pamphlets to travelers denouncing the problems. . The management acknowledged that the workload is high and proposed, among other things, to recruit 20 full-time equivalents, but that was insufficient for the unions. Thursday’s reconciliation meeting yielded no results.
“Actions not excluded”
“We are going to discuss the file with the délégués this weekend,” said Olivier Van Camp of the socialist trade union BBTK. Actions are not excluded. “That’s one of the avenues. But we don’t want to punish the passengers. We will look at how we can put pressure on the management without hitting the passengers hard.” The other unions are also discussing. They all underline that any steps to be taken in a common union front will be taken. Other trade unionists also say that they are considering the next steps.
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In a response, the management of Brussels Airlines regrets that the reconciliation attempt “has not led to agreement on the measures that should be sufficient to tackle the current challenges”. She does intend to limit the heaviest flight combinations, as she previously suggested, and address staff scheduling.
“Competitiveness at the heart”
However, there can be no question of scrapping the collective labor agreement concluded last year on working hours – a demand from the unions – according to the management: “The company’s competitiveness is crucial to ensure a sustainable future for society and its workforce. to create,” it sounds. Because corona continues to adversely affect the results. At the beginning of August, the airline announced that it had incurred a loss of 143 million euros in the first half of the year.
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The board remains open to consultation to find solutions, but immediately warns that “any social action that could harm its customers, affect the workload of other employees and jeopardize the company’s progress and its financial stability, condemns”.
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Photo: BELGAIMAGE
Bad moment
Brussels Airlines can miss social unrest like a toothache, especially now that the ailing weather in our country is chasing people into the sun. “We count 15 percent more last minute reservations compared to the first week of August,” says Maaike Andries of Brussels Airlines. ‘That is a striking increase. More is booked and less canceled. The focus is strongly on destinations in Southern Europe. Spain is doing well, but so are Greece and Italy. Last week, Venice and Málaga stood out.” TUI and Neckermann also report a striking increase in last minutes.
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