Much has been said about SAS and the Scandinavian working model recently. No other sector comes into conflict with its own colleagues more often than the aviation industry. Internationally, we see regular conflicts that result in strikes and polarization across airlines. This is harmful to all parties. It is extremely expensive for the airlines, it is demanding for the employees and it affects the passengers’ ability to travel. The current pilot strike in SAS clearly shows the impact of these conflicts. The strike affects 30,000 passengers daily, and many have had their summer holidays canceled or stranded at their destinations. It is high time that the aviation industry itself tackles this challenge. After years of pandemic and fierce price competition in the market, it should be in everyone’s interest to avoid costly labor disputes in the future. To resolve the situation, we must start by looking at the cause behind the conflict. The aviation industry has a unique labor market model. Other sectors have centrally negotiated and industry-wide agreements, so-called industry agreements. With such agreements, working conditions are not an important factor on which companies compete. Companies can then compete on product, service, quality and price. In today’s aviation industry, employment contracts are an important factor that determines a company’s ability to compete. This stimulates a race to the bottom when it comes to working conditions. Companies that are concerned with fair terms and conditions are put at a disadvantage compared to their competitors. It’s not good for anyone. Furthermore, the current working model of the unions gives great influence over which companies are able to compete in the market and which are not. That should not be the role of trade unions. They want to ensure fair conditions for their members. A centralized industry agreement will remove companies ‘opportunity to use members’ agreements as part of a competition strategy. It should also be in the interests of trade unions and their members. We propose an adaptation of the aviation industry to the contractual standard in other sectors. We invite the unions in Norway, Sweden and Denmark to contribute to a process to achieve national industry-wide agreements for pilots as quickly as possible. In addition to that process, ongoing strikes should be ended to provide space and time to develop a sustainable solution for both airlines and airline employees in Scandinavia. The establishment of an industry-wide agreement creates more equal conditions of competition across all airlines in Scandinavia, where working conditions are no longer a central part of the companies’ competitive conditions. It could give us a real Scandinavian model in aviation.
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Aviation needs a joint agreement – Expression
