Finnair pilots threaten strike action
30-Oct-2009 The Finnish Airline Pilots' Association (SLL) has stated its intention to start strike action as of November 16, 2009. The pilots have also announced an overtime ban starting on October 31, 2009. The overtime ban is illegal.
"It is unforgiveable that a key group of the company should show such a complete lack of judgement in the current economical situation," says Finnair's Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Anssi Komulainen. "By this action, the pilots are endangering the customers' travel plans as well as the jobs of all other Finnair staff. The central question behind the issue is who has the right to decide the use of the company's aircraft: the management or one of the employees' associations.
Finnair's pilots want to continue under the terms of employment agreement that expired a year ago, terms which have become quite impossible under the current economic conditions.
Moreover, according to the SLL, Finnair should restrict the number of aircraft operated by the independent and privately owned company Finncomm.
"It's completely out of the question for us to approve an agreement on the basis of the proposed terms, because such an agreement would include the same restrictions on productivity as in the pilots' proposal of last spring. Such ideas belong to a bygone age," says Komulainen.
Finnair will aim to minimise the effects of the overtime ban and is continually negotiating with the pilots union to solve the issue so that a strike can be avoided.
Finnair will continuously update information about the strike on the internet at www.finnair.com/info.
"If a customer's flight is among those cancelled, the options are rerouting, postponement of the journey, or a refund of the unused part of the ticket. Finnair will be flexible in changing flight bookings, irrespective of the type of ticket," explains Finnair Vice President Timo Riihimäki, responsible for Finnair services.
Customers whose flights are cancelled are urged to primarily contact the travel agent from which they booked their tickets. Finnair will provide service to customers on the telephone number +358 600 140 140.
"We will also inform customers using text messages so it is important that bookings have an up-to-date mobile phone number to be able to send customers information about changes caused by the possible strike. We also recommend use of the internet, because telephone services are likely to be busy," says Riihimäki.
Finnair operates an average of 250 flights per day, carrying around 25,000 passengers. Finnair apologises for any disruption and inconvenience caused to its customers as a result of the strike.