– It seems as if SAS has a very good time. Whether it is to deliberately lower the share price, or what they think, I have no idea. This is what Bjørge Stensbøl, former HR director of the former subsidiary SAS Braathens, says. In 2007, the company became an integral part of SAS. On July 13, the parties resumed negotiations, after the strike broke out almost two weeks ago. The parties have been negotiating for many hours every day. NEGOTIATIONS: On Saturday, Jan Levi Skogvang met the press outside Näringslivets Hus in Stockholm, where negotiations between SAS and the Scandinavian pilot associations are taking place. Photo: Magnus Andersson / TT / NTB Lack of trust Stensbøl led the negotiations for SAS in the conflict between the striking cabin crew and the SAS management in 2006. At that time, he felt that the parties had trust and respect for each other. He does not see that trust now. – The starting point for all such negotiations is trust, says Stensbøl. Now the SAS management must take responsibility, he clarifies. CANCEL THE STRIKE: SAS’s CEO, Anko van der Werff, has early called on unions to call off the strike, giving SAS three to four months to find a long-term solution with the pilots. Photo: CHRIS ANDERSON / AFP The SAS chief, Anko van der Werff, has previously called the strike in the company “bizarre” and the pilots’ behavior “schizophrenic” – You do not scold the employees without losing confidence, as the SAS management has done, says Stensbøl and continues: – They should have built up trust over the years. You also do not start a company without having the unions with you. He refers to the two subsidiaries SAS established during the pandemic – SAS Connect and SAS Link. – That comment can be at his own expense. We have full focus on saving the company, says press manager at SAS Tonje Sund. SAS does not wish to comment further on this. This is the conflict SAS and their pilots do not agree on pay. The core of the conflict is the creation of two staffing companies. During the pandemic, around 560 pilots lost their jobs. At the same time, SAS established two subsidiaries. They were named SAS Link and SAS Connect. These will take over aircraft and be filled with new pilots. The SAS pilots who were laid off during the pandemic will have their job back. They say SAS is trying to circumvent its obligations to bring the dismissed pilots back. SAS rejects this. They believe the company takes into account all agreements entered into. According to the pilot association, the pilots have agreed to savings measures that amount to 25 percent savings. In return, they will have an assurance that it is their members who get the new jobs that will be filled in SAS Link and SAS Connect. Approved bankruptcy protection The day after the strike began, SAS and some of their subsidiaries applied for bankruptcy protection in the United States, also called chapter 11. Only days later did they receive bankruptcy protection. Bankruptcy protection means that creditors cannot bankrupt the company. Chapter 11 is a legal process for financial restructuring. Since the bankruptcy protection is in the United States, the financial restructuring is under the supervision of a US federal court. – What the SAS management thinks strategically is difficult to say, but it is clear that as long as this strike continues – the more it affects the share price, says Stensbøl. – I think they should now gear up and reach the finish line. Can be saved SAS estimates that the strike will cost the company NOK 100-130 million per day. – Do you think SAS will survive? – It surprises me if it goes so far as to bankruptcy. The Danish state has so much to lose on it in relation to Kastrup, says Stensbøl. Kastrup is a large workplace for Denmark, and is very important for the business community. ON THE GROUND: Most SAS aircraft have to stay on the ground as a result of the pilot strike. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB Although SAS has the largest turnover in Norway and its head office in Sweden, the company is still most important for Denmark. In June, it was announced that the government in Denmark is willing to enter into an agreement that it will increase the state’s stake in SAS to between 22 and 30 percent. – It will surprise me if the Danish state does not come in and save it at the last minute. The strike comes on top of an economic crisis in SAS. The company has said that they must cut annual costs by 7.5 billion Swedish kroner and at the same time raise 9.5 billion Swedish kroner in new money.
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– You do not scold the employees without losing confidence – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
