FRANCE: THE STRIKE BY AIR FORCE PILOTS ENTERS ITS SECOND WEEK JUST TWO DAYS AHEAD OF THE START OF THE WORLD CUP

Record ID: 342166

  • Title: FRANCE: THE STRIKE BY AIR FORCE PILOTS ENTERS ITS SECOND WEEK JUST TWO DAYS AHEAD OF THE START OF THE WORLD CUP
  • Date: 8th June 1998
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 8, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. AIR FRANCE PLANES BEING MOVED AROUND CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT 2. WIDE OF AIRPORT 3. VARIOUS OF PLANES AT AIRPORT 4. PEOPLE INSIDE AIRPORT 5. ARRIVALS BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS 6. VARIOUS OF EMPTY CHECK-IN DESKS 7. PEOPLE WAITING IN AIRPORT 8. DEPARTURE BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS 9. WIDE OF AIRPORT Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City:
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVACPVP54297Y2DB9JA2G2E72JXN
  • Story Text: The strike by Air France pilots has entered its second week just two days ahead of the start of the World Cup.

    There appeared to be no end in sight on Monday (June 8) to the strike that has crippled flights in and out of France.

    But the pilots, reacting to a hostile public, have offered to come to the rescue of stranded soccer fans by handling special flights without salary.

    Air France, the World Cup's official airline, immediately welcomed the proposal and said that in theory, it could dispatch special flights within 48 hours to pick up World Cup ticket holders.

    Company management is in deadlock with the 3,200 pilots over its demand to cut their pay in order to finance expansion in a new, more competitive era.

    Negotiations broke up early on Saturday when the pilots walked out and no new date has been set for fresh talks.

    Air France said it would call an extraordinary meeting for representatives of all its staff to discuss the situation.But it did not immediately set a date for the meeting.

    The airline announced on Sunday that the week-long conflict had so far cost it one billion francs (167.9 million U.S.dollars) in lost revenues.

    It has had to drop all but a quarter of its flights for the past week and it announced similar cancellations for Monday.

    Some ground staff and cabin crews called for a moratorium on the strike, but the pilots rejected the suggestion.

    The Communist-led CGT union called for the pay dispute to be widened to include all cabin and ground staff in the 19 unions represented at Air France.

    France's Socialist-led government appeared increasingly concerned about the dispute over the weekend.Prime Minister Lionel Jospin backed up Air France chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta and offered to help the negotiations in any way he could.

    In return for the wage cut, Air France has offered pilots a share of its capital.It also wants to introduce a new, two-tier pay system.The firm argues that its pilots are far better compensated than their counterparts at other comparable European national airlines.

    The SNPL, which represents some 2,600 pilots, wants the new pay scale scrapped.In addition it has demanded a bolstered stock option scheme which will give the pilots a greater say in the running of the company.


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