Trade unions BBTK(socialist) and ACV Puls(Christian) have submitted strike notification to Belgian flag carrier and Sabena successor Brussels Airlines following the dismissal of three flight attendants. Last Saturday, the trade unions at Brussels Airlines launched a protest in connection with the sacking of the three flight attendants, who invoked the "not-fit-to-fly" procedure over the potential presence of bed bugs. They also announced that a strike notification would follow if the management did not respond to their grievances before today.
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Bed bugs' row triggers strike notification at Brussels Airlines
Colin Clapson
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The trade unions are threatening industrial action following the dismissal of three flight attendants who had refused to fly to Ghana after the cleaning crew reported bedbugs may be on board. This caused delay to the flight that the management judged was not acceptable.
The flight attendants had invoked the “not-fit-to-fly” procedure. According to this procedure, crew members are always allowed to indicate just before a flight whether they feel physically or mentally “fit enough” to take responsibility for the hundreds of passengers on board a plane. The trade unions say that the Brussels Airlines management wants to set an example to the other cabin crews. The three flight attendants, with 30, 27 and 20 years of experience respectively, were dismissed on the spot.
Last Saturday’s union protest did not cause any disruption to passengers. As management has now failed to respond to their grievances the unions have now proceeded to submit strike notification. Management now has a week to respond. If it fails to do so, a strike may follow.