The SAS pilots' collective agreement expired almost three months ago.
Trade unions and employers have not managed to agree on a new agreement and at the end of last week, the Swedish Pilot Association announced a strike from 29 June.
Marcus Dahlsten, CEO of the employers' organization Transportföretagarna, describes the strike threat as both problematic and unfortunate.
The aviation industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, and in addition it is affected by a troubled world and the war in Ukraine, he reasons.
- In such a situation, we have a group of workers who resort to the ultimate weapon of conflict, that is, total strike and strike.
It is clear that it is incredibly unfortunate, he says.
Controversy over staffing companies
One of the major stumbling blocks in the negotiations is the recruitment of staff through staffing companies.
Marcus Dahlsten believes that the procedure is common in the Swedish labor market.
But from the union's side, it is claimed that it is a way to circumvent existing collective agreements.
- They have laid off almost half of their staff and re-employ in what they claim are staffing companies, says Martin Lindgren at the Swedish Pilot Association, and continues:
- SAS has established internal mailbox companies that only act as employers for the purpose of circumventing the employer's responsibility and the collective agreements previously entered into.
Financial worries
Both Marcus Dahlsten and Martin Lindgren agree that a strike would have major consequences for travel this summer.
Even if the parties are far apart, they hope for a solution before the strike threat becomes a reality.
- My image is that you should never give up in negotiations, says Marcus Dahlsten.
- I want us to solve this before June 29.
If, on the other hand, it is so bad that we do not agree, well then many people will not arrive at their destinations, says Martin Lindgren.