(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #245 - Low-cost air:
Radio Silence Conflict (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
The month of October was marked by sixteen-day strike by Air France pilots were unable to
obtain total satisfaction. This conflict is the most visible face of an industry plagued
by constant tension. ---- Europe currently serves as a playground for transport companies,
particularly to low-cost airlines. Using loopholes in the Labour Code of the least
protective countries, companies allow increased use of personnel and equipment, sometimes
to the detriment of the laws of the host country as was the case of Ryanair - convicted in
2013 in Marseille for undeclared work. ---- For a long time, the traditional low-cost
airlines have held junior airports and served medium sized cities. This approach was left
shaken by the Easy Jet Company (founded in 1995) which came into direct competition with
traditional companies. Among the causes of Easy-jet successes, one readily evokes
overexploitation of equipment, or his choice serve only the most profitable destinations.
Are ignored law sprained foot and labor union repression. This management model is looked
greedily by the bosses of large companies that have yet and currently dealing with
professional agreements. To copy the economic model of Easy-Jet, most of the former large
national companies have set up low-cost subsidiaries (German wings for Luftansha, Vuelling
British Airways / Iberia). Air France is not outdone by Transavia. The purpose of these
creations is obviously override the old framework conditions which are the
employee-benefit and enjoy the expertise of the parent through the transfer of skills,
including for maintenance or locations in the hubs.
Shotgun marriage
The Air France pilots are not deceived by engaging es it one of the longest standoff of
the past forty years with their direction. The ultimate goal of the pilot course was to
have the same framework for all drivers, they and they belong to Air France and Transavia.
This idea has so far been unsuccessful and the crisis proposal is still considered too
vague to be satisfactory. Finally, the media coverage was double-edged being presented as
a privileged group, the pilots found themselves having to justify their former only
acquired without being able to explain the ins and outs of the reform. Still, this
isolation is also symptomatic of how air traffic characterized by a frenzied
individualism. Flying personnel, tarmac, catering, baggage handlers... All were on strike
during the past year. If traffic controllers and pilots have the ear of the media, it is
only because they nail and ground planes. But in the basement of the terminals, other
employee-es also fight against precarious work, they and they are baggage handlers,
caterers, cleaners or warehouse. The lack of bridges between these professions night
heavily in ongoing struggles and it is currently impossible to find a united front of the
employee-es.
The current deregulation at work already led to increased pressure on the equipment and
personnel and increased risks whose consequences will eventually be dramatic. And it's not
Christophe de Margerie who say otherwise.
Nico (AL Paris North East)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Low-cost-aerien-Silence-radio-sur
