Deadlock : Union offers to end Air France strike
The strike at Europe’s second-largest flag carrier is costing an estimated €15 million to €20 million a day
PARIS:
Air France’s main pilots’ union offered to lift its crippling strike if an independent mediator were named to run negotiations in a bitter battle over the fate of the company’s low-cost subsidiary. The union, in what it called a “gesture of appeasement”, said it was “ready to end the conflict as soon as this mediator is named” by the government. But the French prime minister’s said there were “no grounds for new negotiations with a mediator”. The strike at Europe’s second-largest flag carrier is costing an estimated €15 million to €20 million ($19 million to $25 million) a day. Air France’s share price has fallen nearly 15% since the stoppage began. “This strike is catastrophic for the French aviation sector,” read a joint statement from key industry unions, including those representing travel operators. The protracted strikes, and fruitless negotiations, have also prompted anger among aviation staff grounded alongside their planes.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2014.
Air France’s main pilots’ union offered to lift its crippling strike if an independent mediator were named to run negotiations in a bitter battle over the fate of the company’s low-cost subsidiary. The union, in what it called a “gesture of appeasement”, said it was “ready to end the conflict as soon as this mediator is named” by the government. But the French prime minister’s said there were “no grounds for new negotiations with a mediator”. The strike at Europe’s second-largest flag carrier is costing an estimated €15 million to €20 million ($19 million to $25 million) a day. Air France’s share price has fallen nearly 15% since the stoppage began. “This strike is catastrophic for the French aviation sector,” read a joint statement from key industry unions, including those representing travel operators. The protracted strikes, and fruitless negotiations, have also prompted anger among aviation staff grounded alongside their planes.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2014.