Strike at Brussels Airlines averted
Management and unions at Brussels Airlines have averted a strike announced last week by unions representing cabin crew, with an agreement reached on Monday. Brussels Airlines is faced with making savings of €110 million in order to return to profitability in 2014.
“We remain convinced that the choice for employment via a jobs guarantee for two years and an effort by all members of staff is the right one,” said CEO Bernard Gustin in a statement. “That is better than a drastic reduction in our activities and our staff numbers.”
Unions argued that the measures proposed placed extra pressure on cabin crew, which in turn compromised safety.
Meanwhile, a work-to-rule by customs officers at air freight centre Brucargo led to losses of €9 million a day, according to chamber of commerce Voka Halle-Vilvoorde. Customs officers also worked to rule at the passenger terminal in Zaventem and in the port of Antwerp, in protest at a new salary system which scraps existing premiums for night and weekend work.
