Finnair has reported the start of change negotiations with its pilots, prompted by the potential need for personnel reductions following ongoing industrial action. Discussions will commence on February 12, focusing on the possible furlough or redundancy of up to 90 pilots if changes to Finnair’s cooperation agreement become necessary. The negotiations will also address the introduction of stand-by duty into pilots’ employment contracts, following the refusal of the Finnish Transport Pilots’ Association (SLL) to agree on this practice in a collective agreement.
Two of Finnair’s Airbus A330 aircraft are currently wet leased to another carrier, operating flights between Sydney and Bangkok and Singapore with Finnair crew. Due to the Russian airspace closure, the range limitations of the A330 restrict its use on Finnair’s Asian routes. This wet-lease arrangement has enabled Finnair to keep these aircraft in operation, providing employment for approximately 90 pilots. However, as part of their industrial action, the pilots’ union has extended its stand-by ban to flights operated for the partner airline and the associated transfer flights for crew. This has affected Finnair’s ability to meet its contractual commitments, leading the airline to explore options with its partner carrier, including the possibility of terminating the cooperation agreement. Such a decision would directly impact the availability of work for Finnair pilots.
“It is sad that the pilot union’s prolonged industrial action has led to a situation where we have to start change negotiations. Today is a tough day for all of us at Finnair,” said Kaisa Aalto-Luoto, Finnair’s Chief People Officer. “In our 101 years of history, we have never needed to reduce pilot positions due to operational reasons. Even when the Russian airspace closed and fundamentally changed our operating environment, we succeeded in securing employment for our pilots with collaboration arrangements.”
The negotiations will also address the inclusion of stand-by duty in pilots’ individual employment contracts, as the union has refused to collectively agree on this issue and has proposed that stand-by should always be voluntary. For decades, stand-by duty has been an integral part of Finnair’s collective labour agreements, ensuring the reliability of flight operations.
“Stand-by is an established practice in the industry, and I believe that every Finnair pilot recognises it as part of their job. As the union has declined to agree on this, we are now preparing to include stand-by duty in the employment contracts of all pilots in order to secure regular and reliable flight operations,” Aalto-Luoto added.
Collective agreement negotiations between the Finnish Transport Pilots’ Association (SLL) and Service Sector Employers Palta ry regarding Finnair pilots have been ongoing for more than five months, with mediation led by the National Conciliator since November. Despite multiple settlement proposals from the employer, which Finnair was willing to accept, the pilot union has rejected each offer, prolonging the dispute.
