EasyJet French flight attendants plan two-day strike over Christmas
comments
EasyJet passengers in France are facing disruption as flight attendants from the budget airline's French branch plan to walk off the job over the Christmas holiday.
The workers are planning to strike from 12:01am on Christmas Day to 11:59pm on Boxing Day in a dispute over pay and work schedules.
Francois Bacchetta, general director of easyJet's operations in France, said the Luton-based airline expects to cancel less than half of its flights from French airports.
EasyJet's cabin crew in France are planning a strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (file photo)
Share this article
He said: 'On Monday, we will pre-emptively cancel a certain number of flights in order to transfer passengers, so they can adjust their plans.'
There are no flights scheduled on Christmas Day, so the labour action will only affect travellers on Boxing Day.
Aviation workers are required to announce strikes 48 hours in advance, meaning EasyJet will know the extent of the cancellations on Tuesday.
EasyJet expects to cancel less than half of its flights in France during the two-day walkout
Laurent Nicolas, a representative of the SNPNC-FO union that represents 600 easyJet flight attendants, said workers are upset over schedules that 'can change 20 times per month'.
He said the scheduling makes it impossible for employees to spend quality time with their families.
The union argues that the airline can afford a pay increase for flight attendants as its operating profits were up 21 per cent this year, reaching €728m (approximately £571m).
The walkout will affect travellers on Boxing Day as there are no flights scheduled on Christmas Day
That has translated into huge bonuses for management and income that is up to 300 times the average salary of an easyJet flight attendant, the union claims.
Mr Bacchetta acknowledged the demands of the industry are 'complicated' and that he understood the 'frustration' of workers.
But he was less understanding with complaints over salaries, and he said annual negotiations are underway.
Put the internet to work for you.
0 comments:
Post a Comment