French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
Just the other day, I decided to fly Turkish Airlines to Paris rather than Air France, even though Air France goes to Orly, which is a more convenient airport than Charles de Gaulle. Why? Because the Turkish Airlines flight was about one-fifth the price. Today, Air France announces that its grounding 20 percent of its flights in the coming five days owing to a flight attendant strike:
In a statement published on its website, Air France said that "its customers are being held hostage by a five-day strike for which there is no reason."
The fact that one of the three leading unions decided to withdraw its strike call shows that the company offered reasonable concessions to the workers' demands, the statement further said.
"The management of Air France negotiated night and day for 10 days and responded favourably to 90% of the demands of the flight attendants' unions," it continued.
While the company will try to ensure service continues "significant uncertainty remains regarding the level of participation in the strike by cabin crews, who are not required to notify the company of their intentions," according to the statement.
So, French flight attendants, you win! Except you don't, because you're not actually competing with the Man. You're competing with Turkish Airlines.
- Comment (11)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (0)
Comments :
Dec '10
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
For future reference in making travel plans, herewith Air France’s strike schedule for 2011-12 (start and end dates of school holidays):
Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes, Toulouse
Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg
Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris, Versailles
Reprise des cours : jeudi 3 novembre 2011
Reprise des cours : mardi 3 janvier 2012
samedi 11 février 2012
Reprise des cours :
lundi 27 février 2012
samedi 25 février 2012
Reprise des cours :
lundi 12 mars 2012
samedi 18 février 2012
Reprise des cours :
lundi 5 mars 2012
samedi 7 avril 2012
Reprise des cours :
lundi 23 avril 2012
samedi 21 avril 2012
Reprise des cours :
lundi 7 mai 2012
samedi 14 avril 2012
Reprise des cours :
lundi 30 avril 2012
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
Back in July, a strike at Air France very nearly left me stranded in Prague. Only good luck and a helpful Delta agent enabled me to escape. It should be renamed Air Chance.
May '10
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
Qantas airlines has grounded all flights world wide and locked out its staff effective Saturday evening 30/10/11 AEST. See member posting :
http://ricochet.com/member-feed/Kangaroo-grounded
Industrial action for last 6months has resulted in Qantas loss of $15M per day, and repeated demands by unions Qantas profit was $500M this past year, but cannot compete with outdated work practises, and ridiculous requests for job guarantees
Australian Baggage Handlers:
".. they get paid upwards of 20 per cent above the industry rate and earn between $70,000 to $85,000 a year including penalty rates but not overtime. Overtime is paid at double time as are any public holidays…
..Qantas baggage handlers get significantly discounted domestic and international air travel...
If you get called in to work by choice when rostered off, regardless of the time spent at work, you get paid a minimum four hours at double time.
...They can get up to five days off in a fortnight due to a user-friendly shift roster… They get five weeks’ annual leave, generous sick leave conditions and a well managed and flexible superannuation fund."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/its-hard-work-being-a-qantas-baggage-handler/story-fn558imw-1226165298654
Edited on Oct 30, 2011 at 7:23amMay '11
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
Who do these Air France union workers think they are....... the Palestinians?
I hope the other airlines eat their lunch!
Jun '10
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
Can anyone say "Ronald Reagan/Air traffic controllers"?
Mar '11
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
Anyone know what the French flight attendants are demanding? Their demands are undoubtedly extravagant.
May '10
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
Probably the same as the OWS demands...the sun and the moon.
Nov '10
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
Don't blame the stewardesses; la greve is the French national pastime.
Dec '10
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
According to Le Figaro, one of the six unions on strike said they have scheduled it for five days because the airline can cope for two without disruptions. The airline blames bad weather for delays of this weekend’s flights arriving from the US East Coast (snow in October?!).
In 2007, the same six unions went on strike at this period as well. The All Saints’ Day weekend is a busy travel time for the French. It is the first—well deserved—holiday since their last four-week break in August, i.e. two months ago. That is some distance to travel without time--an eternity—to recharge the batteries.
Each union is disgruntled about something. UNAC has three reasons:
If this strike sounds like “Save a pretzel for the gas jets,” it’s not the first time.
Edited on Oct 30, 2011 at 2:20pmMay '10
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
Claire, The unions are acting with amazing civility: No one to date has been taken hostage, no physical damage has been done, the company had 10 days in which to capitulate, no secondary actions have taken place in sympathy. From a French paradigm standpoint, What's the problem?
Nov '10
Re: French Labor Unions Just Aren't Getting It, Are They?
Talleyrand:
Australian Baggage Handlers:
".. they get paid upwards of 20 per cent above the industry rate and earn between $70,000 to $85,000 a year including penalty rates but not overtime. Overtime is paid at double time as are any public holidays…
Where can I sign onto that gig?
Or, Americans doing the jobs Australians won't do.
Edited on Oct 31, 2011 at 3:42pm