This information has been especially translated
in english for our collegues from KLM.
Since august, rumour is swelling, fuelled by internet and medias : Air
France and KLM will merge .
Until a few days ago the lack of information had the workers rightfully
worried « if they don’t tell us anything, horrifying events are on the way,
mass redundancy, Air France is closing down its european flights in order to
allow KLM to operate them » etc… Rumour spreading in every direction due
to the nonexistant official information.
On the 17th of september, CEO Spinetta finally informed the employee’s
representatives of the merging project beetween Air France and KLM, making
it clear that no deal was yet sealed. He stated of his conviction that in
order to face the european market this union is essential especially with
the will shown by Brussels to allot the traffic rights to « european
aviation operatives.
The choice of KLM is justified by the unanimously recognized quality of the
airline and its staff but also because KLM’s network is complementary with
Air France’s.
KLM ranks fourth in Europe and thirteenth worlwide ? Schipol has a growth
potential that should serve both compagnies. It is also urgent to create an
european entity able to tackle with its competitors within Europe and United
States but also with airlines such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines who
are staking on the international network for lack of interior market.
That is why CEO Spinetta wants « SKYTEAM » to become the biggest world
alliance with AF/KLM its bigger european operator. He sees it as the onlyway
to ensure his compagny « a profitable growth » and states » it is a chance
for Air France 70000 employees » The two compagnies put together would
totalize 104000 employees operating 538 planes.
The garantees given to the employeesis a three years minimum employment
upholding and the respect of their branches agreements for example the one
signed with Cabin Attendants from 2003 to 2008. There is also an agreement
which maintains all individual and collective agreements as well as working
conditions and wages .
IN THESE CONDITIONS ? IS THE MERGING WITH KLM TO BE FEARED ?
We must admit to our lack of qualification to judge the global strategy
outlined by our management. On the other hand, we think it within our
competence to state that
YES The future is worrying for an all french airline. The historical nature
of an airline is not a token of survival as it has been seen for Sabena and
Swissair
YES Growth will allow employees to obtain guarantees on their work and
salary.
YES The best defense is the attack, so why not take the initiative to
recover the advantage on the giga alliances such as ONEWORLD and
STARALLIANCE ? Wouldn’t be more frightening if KLM chose to join BA just
like SWISS ?
YES Future is bleak for the european network operated by « majors ». This is
mostly due to the lowcosts that will sooner or later impose their ways in
Europe.
YES Our union will have to be watchful that future growth is equally shared
beetween Amsterdam and CDG airports. The same reasoning will have to apply
in the event of major crisis to share the efforts.
NO There aren’t any promises or alliances or strategies that would insure us
that our jobs will last forever. We must keep fighting with or without KLMto
improve Cabin Attendants working life
NO We are not naive, we know that mergings are always touchier that first
thought and sometimes many years are needed to mesure its impacts on the
social ground. That is the reason why even if we are in favour of this
merging, we’ll stay on guard and watch closely the social part of this
operation on the long term.
The real question is not must we fear the merging with KLM ? It is how are
we going to go throught privatization while continuing to improve our
working conditions in an economical environment full of crisis, mergings,
bankrupties, epidemics like SARS etc ? The task is arduous UNAC won’t give
in.
At the present time it isn’t sure that this merging or associating or joint
venture will take place . The negociation isn’t finished for it appears that
economic, legal and diplomatic obstacles are still in the way.
NONOBSTANTLY IF THIS ISSUE IS MAINTAINED AT THE 29 TH OF SEPTEMBER
ENTERPRISE CENTRAL COMMITEE AND IF ITS ELECTED MEMBERS ARECONSULTED WE WILL
APPROVE THIS MERGING.
