SAS pilots on strike in April 2019
#316
Join Date: Mar 2016
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The only issue was the overly long waiting times to reach them on the the phone, at least on their Swedish number. It is reasonable to expect much longer waiting times than usual, but 3+2+2 hours on Friday, and 4+2.5 hours on Monday was way over what would be acceptable, even considering the situation. To add to that there was no info on the expected waiting time/position in the queue. Hopefully this will improve since as I read somewhere in the press they were training additional personnel to deal with this. Or even better, this absurd situation will be over soon enough...
I'm surprised they can keep the phone queues below 5 hours waiting time. Specially because some of the staff has been working over time for 5 days in a row now.
#317
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
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The CRJ and pilot crewing problems of the past years that caused massive disruptions caused SAS to invest in a better backoffice and as a result they have better tools this time. The Amadeus ATC is probably helping tremendously because all the rebooking rules are already built in. That way you can use more generic call center staff.
#318
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferable @30.000 feet
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Posts: 1,673
The CRJ and pilot crewing problems of the past years that caused massive disruptions caused SAS to invest in a better backoffice and as a result they have better tools this time. The Amadeus ATC is probably helping tremendously because all the rebooking rules are already built in. That way you can use more generic call center staff.
Regarding the Amadeus ATC tool. I'm working with IT system design daily. No matter how good and intuitive your IT tool is. Those companies who invest in proper training of the staff before they are let loos in the system has a far lower fault rate than those who don't. And with proper training I don't mean a 1 hour video. You need to do class training where the teacher can see the trainees and follow their progress. It can be done virtually, but the physical classes still show a lot better result.
Beside that. The company I work for has a booking tool we are supposed to use when booking flights hotels etc. It's supposed to hold all the policies and rules and they are improving the systems more or less every month. We have had it for about 5 years now, but I can still find ways to book flights and hotels the system wont allow the average user to book. And they are all within the official travel policy.
#319
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
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Well earlier you had to get individual waivers entered in the PNR and the ticketing had to be cross checked by the ticketing department. Now the agent can do everything themselves.
#320
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I'm not saying the tools doesn't help. They do, but not to an extend where you can just ask people to watch a 1 hour video and then man the phones.
#322
Join Date: Mar 2016
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They also need to be trained in other SK systems and specially the SK call center system. You can't just throw people at the call center if you want to provide a professional service. The company I work for has learned that the hard way.
#323
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: ARN
Programs: A3*G, SK*G
Posts: 336
Dagens Næringsliv reports that the negotiations between SAS and the union representing pilots in Norway may be nearing an agreement. The head of the Norwegian union said he is optimistic that a solution may be reached so that flights continue again soon. Representatives of the Danish and Swedish unions are also present. The Swedish intermediator says that the goal is to reach an agreement for the whole company, but he cannot yet judge how this is going as negotiations are held behind closed doors.
https://www.dn.no/luftfart/forbundsl...-na/2-1-596471
https://www.dn.no/luftfart/forbundsl...-na/2-1-596471
#324
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferable @30.000 feet
Programs: More than one
Posts: 1,673
Dagens Næringsliv reports that the negotiations between SAS and the union representing pilots in Norway may be nearing an agreement. The head of the Norwegian union said he is optimistic that a solution may be reached so that flights continue again soon. Representatives of the Danish and Swedish unions are also present. The Swedish intermediator says that the goal is to reach an agreement for the whole company, but he cannot yet judge how this is going as negotiations are held behind closed doors.
https://www.dn.no/luftfart/forbundsl...-na/2-1-596471
https://www.dn.no/luftfart/forbundsl...-na/2-1-596471
#326
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: SK-EBD
Posts: 1,273
#327
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,016
#329
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
SAS reaches agreements with pilots’ unions and the pilot strike in Denmark, Norway and Sweden has ended
May 2, 2019 23:05
Negotiations between SAS and SPF (Svensk Pilotförening), NSF/NF (Norsk Flygerforbund*), SNF (SAS Norge Pilotforening*) and DPF (Dansk Pilotforening*) are now concluded. The parties have agreed on new collective bargaining agreements and all flights in Denmark, Norway and Sweden will be resumed as soon as possible.
Following the pilot strike, that started on Friday April 26th, the parties in all countries have now reached three-year agreements and the strike has been called off. The pilots will resume their work and traffic is expected to normalize over the next few days.
– It is with relief I now conclude that our customers soon will be flying again and that we will be able to pursue our commitment to travelers to, from and within Scandinavia, says Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO of SAS.
The agreements between SAS and the pilots’ unions concern predictability of scheduling, job security and salaries. In addition, the previously canceled agreements concerning collaboration and career paths have been reintroduced.
– The three-year agreements provide stability for the future and the terms of the Swedish agreement are on par with the industrial benchmark for the Swedish labor market (the so called “märket”). SAS operates in a highly competitive market and with these agreements we now need to intensify our work to build a long-term profitable and sustainable SAS, says Rickard Gustafson.
May 2, 2019 23:05
Negotiations between SAS and SPF (Svensk Pilotförening), NSF/NF (Norsk Flygerforbund*), SNF (SAS Norge Pilotforening*) and DPF (Dansk Pilotforening*) are now concluded. The parties have agreed on new collective bargaining agreements and all flights in Denmark, Norway and Sweden will be resumed as soon as possible.
Following the pilot strike, that started on Friday April 26th, the parties in all countries have now reached three-year agreements and the strike has been called off. The pilots will resume their work and traffic is expected to normalize over the next few days.
– It is with relief I now conclude that our customers soon will be flying again and that we will be able to pursue our commitment to travelers to, from and within Scandinavia, says Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO of SAS.
The agreements between SAS and the pilots’ unions concern predictability of scheduling, job security and salaries. In addition, the previously canceled agreements concerning collaboration and career paths have been reintroduced.
– The three-year agreements provide stability for the future and the terms of the Swedish agreement are on par with the industrial benchmark for the Swedish labor market (the so called “märket”). SAS operates in a highly competitive market and with these agreements we now need to intensify our work to build a long-term profitable and sustainable SAS, says Rickard Gustafson.