Air France Pilots Strike over Change in Age 60 Rule!

[Eagle757shark]

Four-day pilots strike could cost Air France €100 million

Friday November 14, 2008
The four-day strike called by French pilot unions to protest a potential change in the retirement age is expected to cause "severe disruption" to Air France's schedule beginning today and could cost the carrier up to €100 million, AF KLM Chairman and CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta said.
The work stoppage, set to start Friday at 12:01 a.m. local time, will result in approximately half of AF's medium- and long-haul flights leaving Paris today being cancelled, with further cancellations to the long-haul program expected as the strike progresses. AF's normal daily schedule comprises 760 medium-haul flights from all airports and 73 long-haul flights from the capital. It said a flight schedule during the strike "is difficult to forecast as it will have to be adjusted each day." It said the impact on approximately 800 flights operated by Brit Air, CityJet, Regional, CCM and Airlinair "should not be as great".
In an open letter to pilots, Spinetta called the strike "unnecessary and dangerous" because the extension of the retirement age to 65 from 60 being discussed by French Parliament would be optional, allowing pilots to retire at 60 if they wished. He said EASA will increase retirement age to 65 in the coming months in line with an ICAO directive.
Spinetta said unions have asked AF to modify its labor agreement to maintain age 60, which would be illegal as age limits for retirement in France "may only be set by law." Those retiring at 60 will have access to current pension conditions and severance, he promised, adding that AF "is prepared to negotiate the measures accompanying this reform."
He also warned that the strike could impact the company beyond the four days. The loss of €100 million in revenue would hinder AF's "capacity to invest at a time when. . .banks are reticent about financing businesses," he claimed.
The airline is allowing passengers to postpone trips without penalty up to March 28 except for long-haul flights scheduled for Dec. 20-Jan. 4 and Feb. 14-March 1. Destinations can be changed with the value of the original ticket deducted from the new one, and refunds or vouchers will be offered if a flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 5 hr. Vouchers also will be offered for those who do not wish to travel during the strike.

by Cathy Buyck

 

[ultrarunner]

Geez, you read the pilot rhetoric, you'd think they're being forced to work to 65!

You can walk at 60, and still have your pension and severance.

Get on with it!

 

[flyf15]

Those French pilots have no idea what they're doing, they need to follow ALPA's lead and start Takin' It Back!!!

/sigh

 

[Dr.Hwang]

The French have more balls than we do.

 

[Flying-Corporal]

This is what some of us here call "socialism".

 

[machophil]

Perhaps in a few years the next move will be to have reduced benefits with retirement at 60. Time value of money says the old guys should retire! If not, the seniority list stagnates and the younger guys don't advance as quickly. Now buying a home in your 20s is more difficult, kids are less affordable till your 30s, and you're working closer to the day you expire. Hope you didn't want as much time with your grandkids...

This is called foot in the door. The french ain't stupid, they see how badly their American counterparts have had it and they're standing up for themselves.

 

[luckytohaveajob]

Have you guys ever had a drink with the French pilots or even the British pilots on an overnight?

Ever notice how young and health the captain looks?

If not, next time your standing behind them in a customs line take a look at the entire crew. The pilots look like pilots should look. And the flight attendants look like stewardess once looked like in America.

American pilots and flight attendants are embarrassing to look at. They look like an old folks home buffet line.

 

[MCDU]

Have you guys ever had a drink with the French pilots or even the British pilots on an overnight?

Ever notice how young and health the captain looks?

If not, next time your standing behind them in a customs line take a look at the entire crew. The pilots look like pilots should look. And the flight attendants look like stewardess once looked like in America.

American pilots and flight attendants are embarrassing to look at. They look like an old folks home buffet line.

That is spot on. The USA is a disgrace. An obesse nation, with 70 year old F/A and pilots who paid their way to their jobs.

I will be moving out as soon as my kids get out of school.

M

 

[stlflyguy]

That is spot on. The USA is a disgrace. An obesse nation, with 70 year old F/A and pilots who paid their way to their jobs.

I will be moving out as soon as my kids get out of school.

M

And evidently, illiterate...


stlflyguy

 

[ultrarunner]

Hence my signature folks....

 

[Ty Webb]

At least we have hats . . .

Look, d0uche- bags (there's a little French for you):

Do you ever wonder why there are so many foreign-born pilots flying in the US?

(evidently not)

Here's a little secret . . . it's because there is more opportunity to become a pilot in the USA . . . so, while you're rolling around in your miasma of self-pity and self-loathing, you might want to stop for a minute and think about what you would be doing if you had been born in France . . . because you likely would never have been able to become a pilot.

That explains all the pissed-off waiters in France- they all wanted to be pilots.

Bon apetite, MF! err . . mon frere :laugh:

 

[Bavarian Chef]

At least we have hats . . .

Look, ****************************** bags (there's a little French for you):

Do you ever wonder why there are so many foreign-born pilots flying in the US?

(evidently not)

Here's a little secret . . . it's because there is more opportunity to become a pilot in the USA . . . so, while you're rolling around in your miasma of self-pity and self-loathing, you might want to stop for a minute and think about what you would be doing if you had been born in France . . . because you likely would never have been able to become a pilot.

That explains all the pissed-off waiters in France- they all wanted to be pilots.

Bon apetite, MF! :laugh:

Yeah, but if I was born in France, apparently I'd have more balls. Three, maybe four for starters.

The French have more balls than we do.

It gives new meaning to the thoroughly French phrase ... "Kiss my hairy bean bags!"

 

[Flybet3]

The French have more balls than we do.

Everyone has more balls than we do. You know why? B/c compared to everyone else we take everything for granted and we will fu*** over our fellow pilot to get ahead. Plus we are lazier and all we do is complain but don't do anything about it.

 

[Flybet3]

This is what some of us here call "socialism".

Yeah, and I call all of you Retards!

 

[Poahi]

Wow. Pilots taking bold and decisive action. They just don't see the importance of ICAO parity... Gheez...

They obviously don't understand that it was going to happen anyway and that it's better to live to fight another day.

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLF25687820081115

 

[Dumb Pilot]

At least we have hats . . .

Look, d0uche- bags (there's a little French for you):

Do you ever wonder why there are so many foreign-born pilots flying in the US?

(evidently not)

Here's a little secret . . . it's because there is more opportunity to become a pilot in the USA . . . so, while you're rolling around in your miasma of self-pity and self-loathing, you might want to stop for a minute and think about what you would be doing if you had been born in France . . . because you likely would never have been able to become a pilot.

That explains all the pissed-off waiters in France- they all wanted to be pilots.

Bon apetite, MF! err . . mon frere :laugh:

You mean is a lot easier, because we have the lowest standards (both academic and medical) to obtain a pilots license here in the US

 

[ultrarunner]

Ok, I had a pretty hard workout today, so I'm a bit fuzzy...

BUT if there's a strike going on, how do you operate half short-haul and up to 75 percent of long haul flights?

They got that many management pilots, or are scabs flying those flights?

 

[Poahi]

Ok, I had a pretty hard workout today, so I'm a bit fuzzy...

BUT if there's a strike going on, how do you operate half short-haul and up to 75 percent of long haul flights?

They got that many management pilots, or are scabs flying those flights?

That might have been it or pilots might have been out of position when the strike started and needed to fly the return trip.

CNN has buried the story. I did find some video on it though.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bu...ermann.france.air.strike.cnn?iref=videosearch

 

[Green]

wish i was an Air France pilot. $30,000/monthUSD to fly an A330 and they average only 65-75 hours of flight time. Imagine that, great pay and work rules....

 

[relief tube]

The French have more balls than we do.

hell yeah.

wish there was at least a hint of thoughts like that here. Course so many disruptive unions in the past have ruined our ability to strike "legally" but still, wish some of the airlines with younger pilot groups would have tried to raise a fuss.

Get the greedy bastards out of here. For now, enjoy 10 or so short years of healthy retirement. 10 years goes by quick.

 

[Flying-Corporal]

That explains all the pissed-off waiters in France- they all wanted to be pilots.

Bon apetite, MF! err . . mon frere

Waiters in France could be pissed at you if you order in English, which is probably what you would do.

I would get pissed if someone would talk to me in German or Chinese and expect me to understand it in this country.

Do a little traveling, there is a big world out there. You will be humbled at how much stuff you don't know.

 

[AC560]

You mean is a lot easier, because we have the lowest standards (both academic and medical) to obtain a pilots license here in the US

Easier to get a JAA license in the US as well I would guess given all the schools handing them out.

 

[Sky Jet]

MCDU,

I am interested to know why if it sucks so bad here in the good ole USA why you will wait until your kids are out of school to leave? And don't give me that story about how the rest of the world is great if I just would get out a little. I flew international for years and now work as an expat. While I like my current job and enjoy the country that I work in, I have to tell you, if I could find a good job in the States I would be back in a heartbeat. My family stays here for exactly the same reason that yours probably does. All things considered it is the safest and best place I know of to raise children in the world.

Jet

 

[Nindiri]

And evidently, illiterate...


stlflyguy

Maybe he thinks it's French for obese.

 

[Raoul Duke]

The French have more balls than we do.

Please tell that to my Grandfather, he could use a good laugh.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Easier to get a JAA license in the US as well I would guess given all the schools handing them out.

Handing them? I think research is in order. The only place in the world that you can do a weekend course (4 hours per day) and get an ATP written Monday morning is here in the US. My contractors license was a 4 day ground school (5 hour each day) and two tests (one business management and one trade) and this is to be able to charge money to tile a floor. Like I said, our medical and academic standards to obtain a pilots license are a joke

 

[Andy Neill]

Ok, I had a pretty hard workout today, so I'm a bit fuzzy...

BUT if there's a strike going on, how do you operate half short-haul and up to 75 percent of long haul flights?

They got that many management pilots, or are scabs flying those flights?

A minority Air France pilot union, the USPNT, said it was not joining the strike because "the reform remained optional."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081114/bs_afp/franceaviationtravelstrike_081114211306