It is a massive starting plan. The government is asking Air France not to start "forced" departures as part of its transformation plan, said Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire on Thursday June 18, while thousands of jobs are threatened within the company according to the unions. 

"There will be necessary adjustments, but I wish and I ask Air France that there are no forced departures. I believe that is the important red line, that there are no forced departures, "said the minister on France Inter. 

. @ BrunoLeMaire: "If tomorrow #AirFrance goes bankrupt, 7 billion people go up in smoke and for which I am responsible" # le79inter @LeaSalame pic.twitter.com/NGG1arYPff

- France Inter (@franceinter) June 18, 2020

The minister refused to confirm the figure of 8,000 layoffs advanced by the unions. "I hope it will be less than 8,000 positions," he added. 

"An overstaffing of 1,800 positions"

At this stage, the discussions with the management relate to the pilots of Air France on "a device of conventional collective rupture" and "400 posts abolished", indicated to AFP Wednesday a representative of the union of pilots SNPL.

In parallel, "there are also discussions" on the future of the 200 pilots who flew on the A380, a model destined to leave the company's fleet, he added.

"An overstaffing of 1,800 positions has been identified" among hostesses and stewards, according to the SNGAF union, and "around 1,800 positions" would be targeted by management in support functions, Didier Dague, salaried administrator (FO) said in May ) from Air France.

Hop !, the threatened subsidiary

Finally, at Hop !, a regional subsidiary of Air France which is particularly threatened by the overhaul of the group's short-haul network, Joël Rondel, secretary of the Social and Economic Committee (CSE), fears the elimination of half of the 2,700 current positions.

Despite these threatened posts, Bruno Le Maire defended the support of 7 billion euros granted to the company by the State, without formal conditions on employment.

"When air traffic collapses, saying 'I put in money but we will absolutely keep each job', what does that lead to? It can lead to bankruptcy risks and that was what threatened Air France", he justified.

With Reuters and AFP 

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