Pilots that work for the Belgian airline Brussels Airlines are to strike for 24 hours from 5am on Saturday. The strike is in protest at Brussels Airlines’ management’s refusal to increase by inflation the extras that its staff receive as part of the so-called “cafeteria plan”, a series of measures designed to ensure that employees enjoy a more personalised renumeration package without increasing the wage burden for employers.
Home News
Brussels Airlines pilots to stage 24-hour strike on Saturday
Published:
Cafeteria plan measures only affect the part of a person’s salary that is above their salary scale or is part of their end of year bonus (often referred to as the 13th month).
All unions that represent the pilots support Saturday’s strike. Olivier Van Camp of the socialist white collar union BBTK told VRT News that “We have all felt the impact of high inflation. The pilots’ basic salary is index-linked, but the cafeteria plan isn’t. As result of this their purchasing power has decreased”.
"We have put our case before a judge and he ruled in our favour. Brussels Airlines’ management promised to increase the cafeteria plan payments by inflation but has now gone back on this and has lodged an appeal”.
The final straw
"This has been the final straw, coming as it does on top of the other issues at Brussels Airlines. It can’t go on like this. This is why many pilots will be downing tools for 24 hours from 5am”.
"This is a warning strike. This could maybe be the start of more strikes if the issues are not resolved. The three unions (socialist, liberal and Catholic) support the action.
Mr Van Camp added that the fact that a strike during the weekend will hit a lot of passengers did not influence the decision to strike on Saturday. It wasn’t until that there was a meeting with the pilots during which management announced their decision. Efforts by the unions to persuade management to have a change of heart were unsuccessful.
"Striking is not a solution"
In a statement Brussels Airlines described the unions’ decision to call a strike as “regrettable” and the airline offered its apologies to passengers whose travel plans will be disrupted.
The airline added that it is always open to dialogue with the unions, but this discussion should take place internally and not in the media.
"We call on the unions to return to the negotiating table to continue talks and prevent unnecessary damage being done to Brussels Airlines."