The Impact of a Strike: Air France pilots end long strike
Two weeks ago, Air France pilots went on a strike fighting against Air France-KLM’s choice to make Transavia one of the top European budget carriers. The development would cost around €1 billion, hence the pilots are afraid that this would result in lower wages and longer working hours.
The strike has caused Air France to lose around 25.4 million USD a day. I believe that Air France put themselves in this situation for being careless of their pilots. Perhaps, if Air France managers discussed the plan with their pilots and approached it’s pilots amicably, instead of allowing them no voice of opinion, such consequences could have been prevented. Air France risked it’s relationship with it’s pilots and damaged it’s reputation. At extreme measures, their customers are put in danger of pilots using customer lives to prove a point. Moreover, if wages are lowered, pilots will lose incentive, even resigning, which will cause the company to increase recruitment expenditure. Transavia already reported an operating loss of about 29 million USD, I suggest Air France to reassess the €1 billion investment in a highly competitive market. They are unsuccessfully reaching out to an unfamiliar customer segment. Also, even though the strike has ended, their ongoing failure to compromise will continue to cost the company. Lastly, I find it to be quite detestable how airfrance.com writes an article on this event using euphemisms such as “welcoming” (the end of the strike) as if to mask the still on-going conflict; also writing, “confirms decision” when a compromise between union and managers has not been drawn.
Resources: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29401056