SAS pilots support wage deal, won’t resume strike By Reuters

By Anna Ringstrom and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Swedish, Danish and Norwegian pilot union members have voted to undertake a collective bargaining settlement reached with airline SAS final month, and can thus not resume their strike, the labour unions stated on Saturday.

SAS grounded some 3,700 flights throughout a crippling 15-day strike in July.

In Denmark, 93% of pilot union members voted in favour of the deal.

“I’m extremely blissful in regards to the nice assist for the settlement, not least when now we have been by way of such a protracted and difficult battle,” stated Henrik Thyregod, chairman of the Danish pilots union.

“The members have clearly understood the gravity (of the scenario) and this exhibits how robust the unity is among the many pilots,” he stated.

Unions in Norway and Sweden stated a majority of their members additionally backed the deal, however didn’t instantly disclose what number of had voted in favour.

Lengthy-struggling SAS, which filed for U.S. chapter safety on the second day of the strike, has estimated the economic motion value it greater than $145 million throughout what is generally the worthwhile peak summer time journey season.

The deal entails decrease wages and longer hours for the pilots but additionally a dedication from SAS, whose greatest house owners are the governments of Sweden and Denmark, to rehire pilots laid off in the course of the pandemic.

The brand new collective bargaining deal between SAS and unions additionally wants approval by a U.S. courtroom dealing with collectors’ pursuits within the Chapter 11 course of.

Below the settlement, pilots got a assure that SAS won’t arrange new subsidiaries on totally different phrases than what has now been agreed, Dansk Metallic, the union representing Danish pilots, stated in a press release.

SAS, which was already loss-making earlier than the pandemic because of rising competitors from low-cost carriers, has stated it must slash prices additional and lift extra capital with a purpose to survive.

Whereas the Swedish authorities has rejected the corporate’s plea for more money, Denmark says it’d inject recent funds if SAS additionally finds assist from private-sector traders.