SAS strike, Aircraft mechanics | This work could mean the end of the SAS strike: – It is an important signal
On Thursday morning at 09.00, the parties to the SAS strike were back around the negotiating table in Stockholm. As before the meeting, national mediator Mats Wilhelm Ruland was optimistic about a quick solution to the conflict.
– It is extremely important to find a solution now. This is a company that is in a very demanding financial situation, it is an employee group that has been in a conflict and many are allowed. Not least, many tens of thousands are affected by this conflict, said Ruland, when he met a united press corps before the negotiations started up again.
At about the exact same time, Thursday morning, the Danish SAS mechanics returned to work after ending the sympathy strike with the pilots. This can be a significant sign that the strike is coming to an end, because the agreement has been entered into between the aircraft mechanics and SAS in Denmark, it is an important condition that the aircraft must get into the air as soon as possible after the strike is over.
– No need to wait
Keld Bækkelund is the union leader in Dansk Metal, the union that represents the Danish aircraft mechanics, and he looks forward to getting the SAS aircraft on the wings as soon as possible.
– It was an effective sympathy strike. What we are starting now is unpacking the planes at Kastrup. We do this to make sure that when the strike is over, Danes can get out and get home. There is no reason for us to wait for the planes to be prepared later, says Bækkelund to Danish TV 2.
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However, he does not want to answer whether this means the strike could be over fairly soon. Bækkelund tells Danish TV 2 that he has made a mistake “far too many before”, and therefore chooses to be a sober optimist this time.
May be over soon
Aircraft analyst Jacob Pedersen, for his part, is optimistic after the aircraft mechanics have been put into full swing.
– This is an important signal. This means that the planes can get in the air in one day or that, maybe three, or faster than all this, after the strike is over. Then you also save money. The fact that the planes are not just parked on the ground can save SAS between 100 and 200 million kroner, he says to Danish TV 2.
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He adds that this seems like a signal that the parties to the conflict are very close to an agreement, because in his eyes it makes sense to prepare the planes already now.
Aviation analyst Hans Jørgen Elnæs has previously told Nettavisen that he believes in a solution soon.
– I think an appointment may be in place before Saturday. The parties need the time they must have to rewrite the text of the agreement. Depending on the development of the negotiations, one can plan for operation, but one must expect that the company will need a few days before they return to normal. You need them three to five days before the planes are back in normal operation. The planes that are in Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen can get started quite quickly, if you assume that the mechanics do what they can within the framework they have reached, the expert said earlier this week.
– Can we expect cancellations also after the strike due to other problems?
– Normally, 99 percent of the routes deliver as they should, but yes, it can happen, such is aviation. It may be deficiency due to the disease, for example, black Elnæs then.