The labor dispute between NHO Luftfart and the Norwegian Aeronautical Engineers Organization (NFO) is thus escalating sharply.
– We are sorry that our and the Ombudsman’s repeated attempts to find a solution to the conflict have been rejected by the aircraft technicians in NFO. The distance is very large, and the demand from NFO is far beyond what has been agreed with other occupational groups in society, says CEO Torbjørn Lothe of NHO Luftfart.
The lockout means that 450 aircraft technicians from NFO are refused to come to work. It also affects the ambulance service in the north – which could potentially lead to danger to life and health.
Forced wage board can force itself on
In that case, it will probably lead to the state quickly intervening and canceling the strike with a so-called compulsory wage board.
The air ambulance airline Babcock has applied for a dispensation in the aircraft technician conflict in the event of a lockout, but was refused by NHO on Saturday.
Babcock, which operates the ambulance flight service in Norway, says they take note of NHO Aviation’s decision to reject the exemption application. They have informed their client Luftambulansetjenesten HF that a lockout from midnight will reduce their ability to take care of emergency preparedness with ambulance aircraft.
Affects many travelers
The aircraft technician strike started last Saturday and has already led to several canceled flights.
The core of the dispute has been the aircraft technicians’ demand of NOK 60 more per hour, which corresponds to a salary increase of 17 percent. NHO believes this is unrealistically high.
The strike was stepped up this weekend when 38 new members of NFO were taken out. A total of 106 technicians have been taken out to roast.
– The lockout that has now come into force, will affect very many travelers who are going on holiday, the airlines in Norway and everyone who is dependent on flights in our long-distance country, says Lothe.
He adds that NHO apologizes for this, but claims that they do not experience any willingness on the part of the other party NFO to resolve the conflict.
– Our phone is on, and we hope the aircraft technicians take the initiative to get the negotiations on a constructive track before more air passengers are affected by the conflict, Lothe says.
–
