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SAS and pilots in Sweden, Norway and Denmark are meeting for new negotiations to find a solution to the deadlocked conflict. If no agreement is reached, a strike is expected from Friday.

SAS pilots announced a strike on April 2 after negotiations with the employer broke down. On Monday, the parties met in Denmark for new talks, and negotiations will continue in Norway and Sweden during the week.

If the parties fail to reach a solution, a strike is expected from midnight on April 26 in all three countries. The main issues in the conflict include better working conditions and higher wages. SAS does not want to comment on how the negotiations are going, but is hopeful that an agreement will be reached.

”"We are in a situation where we do not want to comment on any details from the negotiations," says Knut Morten Johansen, press manager at SAS in Norway to TT, and continues:

”"We hope for a solution, that's my main message. The important thing is that we meet and talk constructively about the issues at stake."”

If the negotiations fail, the strike risks becoming widespread, according to SAS. Since the negotiations have not been successful, mediators have also stepped in to try to reach a solution to the conflict, something that has been welcomed by both parties.

The Swedish Pilots Association has around 1,500 members who are part of the SAS Pilot Group (SPG), which represents 95 percent of SAS pilots in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

The union states that it has been a slow process, but that they hope to reach the employer in the coming week.

”"Negotiations will continue until the very last minute. It is a difficult situation and it is difficult to get the company to discuss the substantive issues, but we are hopeful that we will succeed," says Wilhelm Tersmeden, chairman of the pilots' association's SAS section.

Source: TT