Brussels Airlines pilots have announced they will be joining cabin crew for striking in December. Cabin crew’s “indefinite period” strike starts today while pilots are planning on walking out from 11 December onwards.
The main problem that pilots are facing is insufficient rest time between flights, leading to work overload. “During the corona crisis, rest times were changed increasing workload for cabin crews and pilots. Staff are now requesting structural measures to build more rest times into their schedules”, Jolinde Defieuw, from the ACV Puls union explained.
We have been making demands for two years, particularly in terms of rest periods, and nothing is changing. We cannot wait any longer.
Olivier Van Camp, Permanent Secretary of SETCa union
The strike has not been officially decided on yet, but pilots have expressed their willingness and readiness to walk out aiming to “force management back to the negotiating table”, said ACV Puls permanent secretary, Olivier Van Camp.
“The problem is not that Brussels Airlines is short of pilots, but that there is a major problem with the management of human resources and particularly with the timetables,” added Van Camp. “This company is very badly managed.”
A meeting between airline management and representatives of both pilots and cabin crew is set for the end of the month. If no common ground is found, Brussels Airlines might find its planes on the ground during the busy winter holiday period.
Overworking is also among the issues flagged by cabin crew, especially since the new rosters were decided unilaterally by the airline without consultation with its employees. Moreover, the unions have pointed out that while Brussels Airlines had its most profitable summer ever this year, it is still sticking to the lower wages agreed on during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Similar issues have led Ryanair pilots and cabin crew to strike multiple times in Belgium over the past year. However Ryanair CEO, Michael O’Leary, who responded to the strikes by threatening to leave Belgium, or not responding at all, Brussels Airlines is taking a more complaisant approach. The airline’s management told Aviation24.be it “remains resolute in finding long-term solutions to maintain its attractiveness as an employer while controlling costs in a highly competitive market”. The airline said it is willing to sit down with union representatives, hoping to find “constructive solutions” for both sides, however, no date has yet been set for the conciliation meetings.
