Norwegian Air and its pilots via Norwegian Pilot Union have entered mediation today. Members of the Norwegian Pilot Union are against airline management’s demand for cuts in pensions, pay and insurance benefits after losses tied to Norwegian’s intercontinental expansion. The two parties failed to reach any agreement alone and so have sessions with state mediator Nils Dalseide until midnight tomorrow. If the two parties still fall to reach an agreement, reports state that the union is prepared to strike from Saturday morning. The loss of 700 pilots will severely impact the airline’s scheduled services.
“We have come to a point where enough’s enough,” pilot Morten Strandås told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) today. He said he had faith that a settlement was possible through mediation, “but we have no possibility to work under the terms they have set for us.”
Pilots fear the airline company that employs them, NAN, could be declared bankrupt that would enable parent company Norwegian Air Shuttle to hire cheaper pilots from overseas. The union is therefore fighting for a permanent collective bargaining agreement with Norwegian Air’s parent company, Norwegian Air Shuttle.
The airline refused to comment on such fears and simply stated that its goal is “to continue to be a strong airline with our pilots as part of the team. If we don’t reach our goals in mediation, the situation will be extremely serious, not just for the pilots but also for the entire company”.