Air France unions in strategy talks

French labour organisations at Air France-KLM including the SNPL and SPAF pilot unions and bodies representing cabin crew, ground staff and engineers are meeting in Paris today, Monday, to discuss strategy following the controversial appointment of new CEO Ben Smith.

The unions are drawing up a list of demands following discontent at the appointment of the group’s first foreign head and the 300% salary increase said to have lured him from Air Canada.

The demands are likely to include higher pay for all staff, a growth strategy that safeguards jobs and the prioritisation of expansion at Air France over the group’s more-profitable Dutch partner KLM, union spokesmen told Bloomberg News.

The agency said talk of an immediate strike has been put on hold, but Smith’s potential annual pay of €4.25m would become a focus for discontent if the demands were not met. Strikes have already cost Air France-KLM €335m this year.

In the Netherlands, the Dutch pilots’ union VNV has also said it will strike unless management submits improved offers to ease their workload. Rejecting a last-minute offer by KLM on Thursday, the union said stoppages could begin next month.

www.airfranceklm.com

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