Strike Details from Aftenposten.
>Just posted on Aftenposten's English website.
Virtually all domestic flights by Scandinavian airlines unit SAS Braathens were grounded Thursday when 1,070 cabin attendants went on strike over a new contract.
The strike comes before Norway's long Easter break, and at a time when other problems, such as scores of flights canceled in January due to a pilot protest, have marred the airline's public image.
An estimated 28,000 passengers on 400 flights would be effected on Thursday.
The strike could affect as many as 190,000 travelers during the Easter holidays. "We have no idea how long the strike will last," said SAS Braathens information chief Siv Meisingseth.
Coping
Meisingseth expects phone lines at the SAS Braathens customer service on 05400 to be under strain. "This is the number passengers can use to rebook or refund their tickets. Travel agencies can also help if customers have bought their tickets there," Meisingseth said.
"I deeply apologize that we can only offer our customers a sharply reduced traffic program," said SAS Braathens Managing Director Petter Jansen. "It is surprising that the NKF (union) would choose to create this crisis."
Background
SAS Braathens was formed with the merger of the Norwegian unit of Scandinavian Airlines System and the SAS-owned Norwegian airline Braathens in 2004. However, many employees in the same jobs, such as the cabin crew, remain in two separate labor unions.
The strike was ordered by the Norwegian Cabin Association (NKF), representing former SAS staff. State led-mediation for 800 cabin crew organized in the former Braathens union continued into the morning Thursday but collapsed over wages and working hour demands, and benefits, said union deputy leader Elisabeth Goffeng.
Dispute
Jansen incensed workers by saying that cabin staff annual wages of NOK 400,000 (USD 62,300) were 25 percent higher than competitors paid.
"We congratulate Petter Jansen on his salary of NOK 2.6 million and a bonus of over 600,000 last year - thanks to the efforts of, among others, our cabin personnel," said NKF leader John Lyng.
Union representatives told NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) that the real reason for the strike were divisive differences in pay for men and women, and different treatment of pilot and cabin crew work scheduling.
The NKF also pointed out that former SAS cabin crew are not paid extra for working Sundays, night shifts, movable holidays and national holidays on the 1st and 17th of May. Overtime payment only begins after 45 hours in a five-day period.