On 18-19 November 2013, Brussels Airlines pilots massively participated in the strike called by trade unions. Since SABENA bankruptcy, it has actually been unusual to see Belgian pilots on strike. It has indeed been used as the very last resort to protect our fundamental labour rights and working conditions. For over a year, Brussels Airlines pilots have called their management to discuss and improve the “Beyond 2012” plan. Without success. The strike was therefore the only remaining option to get our legitimate demands heard.

In December 2012, the restructuring plan “Beyond 2012” was adopted and pilots were asked to accept the measures or the company would go bankrupt. Which they did: part-time contracts for all pilots; increase in the working time and decrease in the rest time; freezing of salaries; closure of the employer pension contributions; 58+ pilots forced into retirement; etc. However, since its signature, the plan has raised many concerns among pilots, who identified some of the measures as inappropriate. A few examples: shortage of pilots and flight cancellations due to imposing part-time contracts to pilots; medium-haul pilots who did not receive their extra days off; long-haul pilots working 100% who were paid 90%, etc.

Despite the many complaints sent to the management, pilots were not heard. They were already the most affected by the plan, but they were asked to make even more “efforts”, while the company was following contradictory policies, such as planning to hire ab initio pilots after terminating some 58+ pilots’ contracts or stopping the pension contributions but keeping the Korongo project at Lubumbashi, which is a financial disaster.

This is why Brussels Airlines pilots went on strike. There is no such thing as a successful strike, as it is always the result of failed negotiations. Yes, they are aware of the financial situation of their company. No, they are not irresponsible. They don’t like strikes. But sometimes, this is a necessary evil. Thanks to these actions, pilots and management have come back to the table. Let’s now hope that the company will propose fair solutions in the coming months!

Timeline of the strike:

• December 2012: Beyond 2012 plan adopted – pilots send many complaints about measures considered inappropriate
• 18-19 November: pilots go on strike to ask for the management to respect signed agreements
• 29 November: union delegates decide to continue negotiations
• 2 December: conciliation meeting between the pilots and the management concludes with clear recommendations for both sides
• 4 December: Brussels Airlines communication shows the company is unwilling to respect the agreement
• 12 December: union delegates call all pilots to restart actions as of 20 December
• 18 December: the strike threat is cancelled, following a meeting with the chairman of the board Mr. Davignon. All 58+ are re-hired under normal employee contracts and forced part time is cancelled 1 year earlier than planned in “Beyond 2012”
• January 2014: negotiations over the employer pension contribution, overtime payment (basket) and annual leave allocation continue