Brussels Base (90 pilots)

The 2016 social elections have brought some new faces to the EAT BRU Health and Safety Committee (also in charge of the Works Council duties as total workforce is under 100 employees), with a voting participation rate of 80%. For the new BRU pilot team, priority n°1  is to coordinate common agendas with the Leipzig crew representatives, as most OPS issues are common to both bases (safety, security, FTLs, scheduling, hotac, etc.).

Fleetwise, the 34 Boeing 757s SF (11 operated by EAT Leipzig and 23 by DHL Air UK, another DHL subsidiary) are progressively replaced by Boeing B757s PCF, with full glass cockpit. EAT will be the second PCF operator in Europe… after Fedex!

The Airbus 300-600 fleet is now at cruise speed with 21 airplanes. In June, DHL made their involvement in the A330 Cargo program official.

The new high tech DHL sort center in Melsbroek is growing fast, bringing more positive light to DHL’s future at Brussels Airport.

Leipzig Base (approx 150 pilots, of which 40 “Belgian 8/6 contracts”)

A Collective Labour Agreement (CLA LEJ) on terms and conditions valid for a three-year period has been in simultaneous negotiation between EAT Leipzig with verDI and Vereiningung Cockpit, two German unions.

The CLA was signed by verDi, but EAT ended negotiations with VC, as VC was refusing to sign some side agreements (not shared with pilots) on Minimum Service.

The end result is that EAT based pilots are now split into (at least) four contract subgroups, creating complex situations for management and crewing. Another interesting point is that some new Leipzig FOs start leaving the company at the end of their 2-year initial contract.

Vinciane Cabaret, BeCA/VC Representative
Alain Vanalderweireldt, Vice-President EAT/DHL