Last week it was the cabin crews at Brussels Airlines, this week it’s the pilots that have given notification of strike action. Pilots are unhappy about work pressure and are threatening strike action from 11 December onwards.
“They are asking for structural measures to build more rest into their schedules,” says Jolinde Defieuw of the Christian union.
“Pilots have informed management and staff of their plans to walk out from 11 December onwards if certain problems are not sorted,” says Defieuw.
Chief concerns are work pressure and insufficient rest times. “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.”
Last week, Brussels Airlines cabin crews announced strike plans. They are threatening actions during the Christmas holidays. Among stewards and stewardesses, there is “deep-seated discontent”, the unions say. Management is accused of failing to comply with a number of stipulations contained in collective labour agreements. Staff also want salaries to be returned to pre-pandemic levels. Management said it was surprised by some of the demands, but also “determined to find solutions”.
