TAP CEO regrets union’s decision to strike
"We are very sad. I hope that we will be able to meet again after these two days [of strikes on Thursday and Friday] and try to find a solution to avoid disruptions for everyone," TAP's CEO stated.
The chief executive of Portugal’s flag-carrier TAP Air Portugal, told Lusa on Tuesday she regretted the crew union’s decision to maintain this week’s strike and schedule further stoppages, expressing her willingness to try to find solutions to avoid further disruption.
“We are very sad. I hope that we will be able to meet again after these two days [of strikes on Thursday and Friday] and try to find a solution to avoid disruptions for everyone,” TAP’s CEO told Lusa.
Christine Ourmières-Widener “deeply” regretted the decision by the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC) and stressed that the company “is willing” to meet with the union after the two-day crew strike this week, which the SNPVAC decided today in a general meeting to maintain.
The SNPVAC members also decided to schedule at least five more days of strikes until January 31.
“We hope to find solutions,” stressed the TAP executive president, recalling that the last proposal presented by TAP met nine of the union’s 14 demands and represented, as a whole, a gain of €8 million for crew members.
Christine Oumières-Widener reiterated that the “only condition” demanded by TAP was to bring forward the general meeting that took place today to have more time to come up with alternatives for passengers should the strike go ahead.
“Additionally, it is common knowledge that we signed an emergency agreement last year, which includes issues on which we agreed and which are the only way for us to be sustainable in the future, with decisions, for example, on the number of crew members on flights, which we cannot change,” she pointed out, stressing that “it is not possible to change this commitment with the SNPVAC” and that “they know that”.
Asked about the company’s openness to welcome some of the union’s demands and prevent further strikes, the CEO said that giving in “on nine of the 14 points presented by the union is a lot in any discussion”.
“It is important to ensure that we all bear in mind that TAP is strategic for the country and that the survival of TAP and a better financial result – which we have already shown in the third quarter – are critical for the future. For the future of the company, for the future of the country and also for the future of employment for all TAP workers”, she concluded.
