Anger over the handling of employees in the wake of the pandemic is high among Nordic SAS pilots. In Norway, the issue has reached major politics, but in Sweden, SAS's maneuver has flown under the radar.
”"When we applied for the jobs, we got an automated response that we were not going to move forward in the process. Everyone at Arlanda got that," a laid-off pilot tells Di.
When the pandemic hit and knocked the legs out of the aviation market, SAS laid off staff en masse and was forced to lay off 562 Scandinavian pilots. However, those laid off have a five-year re-employment right, which raised hopes that they would get their jobs back when demand picked up again. However, those hopes have been dashed for many.
From the beginning of the year, SAS Ireland, which SAS founded in 2017 with staff hired from the staffing company CAE Parc Aviation, will change its name to SAS Connect. The subsidiary, which has also previously received criticism from unions for trying to circumvent collective agreements by using hired staff, will expand its operations with a base in Copenhagen. At the same time, the company SAS Link will be established based at Arlanda, which will be operated with smaller aircraft and cover the small regions in Scandinavia.
The two companies, which are being separated from SAS, will be filled with their own personnel and their own aircraft, but the criticism against the airline is that it is a matter of paper constructions to avoid rehiring previously laid-off pilots. The
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Martin Lindgren, SAS representative in the Swedish Pilots' Association union, believes that SAS's actions deviate from the common agreements that exist for SAS pilots in Scandinavia.
”"SAS has laid off a lot of people during the pandemic but has said that 'when we get up and running and flying again – be ready because then you can come back to work'. Now that the restrictions are being lifted, they are saying that they do not intend to follow those agreements and promises.".
Di has spoken to one of the laid-off SAS pilots who would have liked to take a job at SAS Connect based in Copenhagen, but now feels let down by the airline and sees himself as having no chance due to external competition for jobs.
”"I have the uniform hanging here in the closet and we are trained on the aircraft types, have experience from the company's routes, manuals and have been tested and screened for several days. When we applied for the jobs, we got an automated response that we would not proceed in the process. Everyone at Arlanda got that," says a dismissed pilot to Di.
Martin Lindgren believe It is not that it is a cost issue for SAS as the laid-off pilots do not have higher salary levels than other competitors.
”"It's a project that is nothing more than an attempt to avoid employer responsibility and having to deal with unions. They don't want a counterpart who is equal," he says.
SAS Connect is accused of having signed a collective agreement with the Danish Airline Employees' Union, FPU, behind the back of the Danish Pilots' Association (DPF).
”"You find a union that is willing to sign an agreement without having a single member in the workplace and then they say they are following the Scandinavian model. It is completely absurd," says Martin Lindgren, SAS representative in the Swedish Pilots' Association.
That Eivind Bjurstrøm who is head of operational planning and crew strategies is also listed as head of SAS Connect Crew Services is another clear sign that the airline actually sees this as a core business, says Martin Lindgren.
”"They're making a legal mistake by calling it a different corporate registration number, but it's the same business in every sense," he says.
Martin Lindgren also takes aim at the Swedish government, which has so far been silent on the issue.
”"SAS has the Swedish state as its largest owner and they are represented by the government. Now you have a company that completely violates the Swedish model of a decent working life. The owner must speak out. I don't understand why they don't want to speak out or answer our questions at all," he says.
While there has been silence from the Swedish government, the issue has become a hot potato in Norway, with many articles and news reports on television.
Sverre Myrli, transport policy A spokesperson for the Labor Party, which is currently trying to form a government after its election victory a few weeks ago, has directed heavy criticism at SAS.
”"If SAS now comes up with new structures, tricks, tinkers and becomes a company that we don't really want to compare ourselves to, it is clear that the interest in supporting, helping and saving SAS will decrease," he told NRK.
Source: DI.SE
