Paris (AFP) – With only four out of ten aircraft on takeoff, the standoff between Air France and its pilots continued Wednesday and did not seem on track to run out of steam in the third day of a strike that Prime Minister now seeks to “stop.”
“We have to stop this strike” which “is not understood,” said the Socialist Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, shortly after his minister of economy, Emmanuel Macron, had called the company “a few concessions.”
Since Monday, the strike is heavily followed by 60% of drivers according to management, 75% according to the AF SNPL Alpa majority . among pilots
In the beginning of the conflict, the development of Transavia, the low cost subsidiary of Air France: Unions say they are opposed to but “the conditions” proposed
The renewable notice of SNPL runs until September 22. The SPAF (second union) and Alter (unrepresentative) have extended the two-day theirs until 20.
Air France plans to ensure Wednesday, as Tuesday, 40% of flights after less than 50% in the first day. The situation should not really improve Thursday, management announcing “42% of flights maintained.”
A Nice, 90% of flights were canceled Wednesday. Jean-Pierre, a retired home from vacation in Verdon, finds that the strike “is abuse when you see how much they earn, the pilots.” To regain Nantes, he was offered to travel with Hop !, regional subsidiary, with step in Bordeaux.
In Parisian airports, the day should be “broadly in line” with that of Tuesday, with more than half of canceled flights. But for the first time, the departures of long-haul flights are not insured at Orly, said an airport source.
Toulouse and Lyon, 75% of flights have been removed upstream. In the west (Rennes, Brest, Nantes), between 40 and 50%
-. Strikers ‘not let go’ –
Air France, who says he sent 1 1 million messages to its customers since the beginning of the strike, always recommend to those with flights by 22 to postpone their trip or change their tickets free of charge.
The unions organize a meeting General at 13:00. Briefing a priori without a vote, the AG aims to “show leadership” that the strikers “do not let go,” said Julien Duboz, spokesman SPAF.
In this tussle , management announced that it would file a complaint Wednesday against a Facebook account identifying non-striking drivers, denouncing a method of intimidation.
The discussions between management and unions were to resume Wednesday. So far, Air France has failed to reassure drivers about his plans. His proposal to limit the increase of the fleet of Transavia France to 30 aircraft by 2019, against 37 planned Tuesday received an end of inadmissibility.
SNPL sees a maneuver to justify a stronger development of Transavia Europe, with “lowest bid” contracts socially and ultimately the disappearance of Air France routes.
In response to the growing competition from low-cost carriers The AF-KLM group setting opening new bases in Europe Transavia in 2015, with pilots under local contracts.
A source of Air France, the hourly cost of drivers 40 % higher in France than in Air Transavia, where the gross annual salary is between 87,000 and 180,000 euros, against a fee of between 75,000 and 250,000 euros for Air France, depending on grade, seniority and assignment.
The group rejects the main demand of the unions to reserve Air France pilots had more than 100/110 seats, regardless of the group company (Air France, Transavia, Hop!).
A movement of a week would be the longest run by pilots of Air France (Air France-KLM group) conflict since 1998 Management evaluates its cost 10 to 15 million per day, excluding compensation.
If the conflict continues, “it could jeopardize the jobs of the company”, warns the union FO maintenance staff. In a statement, the union called management and drivers to “take responsibility” and regrets – as CFE-CGC and CFDT -. Strike that undermines the efforts made by the employees since 2012
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