Planned TNT Takeover by FedEX: TNT pilots’ jobs and careers must be protected!

A couple of months ago, it came to our attention that FedEx is planning to take over TNT Airways. Having in mind our bad experience with UPS a few years ago, BeCA, jointly with unions, immediately took action with one sole objective in mind: protecting TNT pilots’ jobs and careers.

What’s at stake? Our jobs! Let’s face it: the (not so well) hidden intention of our US colleagues is to take our jobs. And they will try even if a US pilot costs twice the price of a European pilot. It is unacceptable that pilots who have loyally served the TNT network for the last 16 years would lose their job and career protection. This is why we need to be proactive and act quickly: it is of paramount importance that we meet our US counterpart in order to sign a convention with them that will protect our jobs. The task will not be easy, but we already sent a request for mutual assistance to ECA and IFALPA, who have large experience in these matters.

At the same time, we need to lobby the EU institutions. Indeed, should TNT Express’ airline be divested in compliance with applicable airline ownership regulations, BeCA exhorts EU regulators to set conditions and constraints in order to protect the European aviation business. European airlines paying their taxes in Europe contribute to the economic revival, while US operators transporting freight within Europe with US planes and workforce don’t. The European Commission must thus protect European cargo, by making it mandatory for foreign operators flying to and from Europe to use European workforce, just like the US protects its own air business.

BeCA will closely follow this file and do whatever it takes at political and company levels, together with unions, to ensure TNT pilots are protected.