- Norse Atlantic Airways has struck its latest deal with a union. The carrier, which has yet to take its first flight, has sought to fend of the labor challenges that bedeviled Norwegian Air, through a charm offensive with unions. Earlier this year, Norse Atlantic met with the U.S. Association of Flight Attendants to pledge to uphold union-friendly hiring practices. Similarly, the carrier last week met with the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) to strike a deal to add “hundreds” of jobs in the UK. Details of the deal were not released, but both parties lauded it, with BALPA adding that it was “impressed” with Norse Atlantic’s commitment to labor.
- In a sign of growth and of its forecast for a rosier 2022, AirBaltic said it plans to hire 320 staff, 120 pilots and 200 flight attendants, in advance of the summer 2022 peak travel season. Many of the pilots the carrier will rehire had been let go when AirBaltic downsized during the pandemic. AirBaltic plans to take delivery of eight additional A220s next year.
- JetBlue‘s cabin crew union has filed suit alleging the carrier threatens to discipline flight attendants who take sick days. In a lawsuit filed New York state court, the Transport Workers Union further alleged that JetBlue requires flight attendants to provide a doctor’s note when they take one or two sick days, in contravention of city and state laws that say notes are only required if an employee takes three ore more sick days. “They created an abusive atmosphere by greedily scheduling more work than they can handle, and they are making their employees pay for their mismanagement,” TWU President John Samuelsen said. “Sick and stressed-out workers are being forced to come to work.”
Madhu Unnikrishnan
September 27th, 2021