Swissport industrial action at Brussels Airport

[Passenger]

Seems it’s difficult for some to empathise with what passengers go through. It’s not just “bad news”. At first, their flight is delayed by several hours. And then, they are told that their luggage is withhold as hostage in a social dispute that they are not involved with.

So passengers indeed feel they are robbed. Robbed from their own goods - the things they really need for their journey, for their work, for their daily use. Not all people react to a robbery by calmly filling in a complaint.

[RoMax]

Seems it’s difficult for some to empathise with what passengers go through. It’s not just “bad news”. At first, their flight is delayed by several hours. And then, they are told that their luggage is withhold as hostage in a social dispute that they are not involved with.

So passengers indeed feel they are robbed. Robbed from their own goods - the things they really need for their journey, for their work, for their daily use. Not all people react to a robbery by calmly filling in a complaint.

Of course, I totally agree. But that still doesn't mean you have to 'attack' personnel, especially if they are not the ones that cause the problem.

[sn26567]

The Freebird flights operated for Jetair this afternoon are now rerouted through Ostend instead of Liège. No decision has been taken yet for tomorrow's flights.

[sn26567]

BREAKING: the trade unions and Swissport management have reached a deal. Details are not yet known. The agreement should be presented to the union members this Wednesday morning. It is possible that the strike will continue Wednesday morning until union members have approved the deal.

[Tomskii]

BREAKING: the trade unions and Swissport management have reached a deal. Details are not yet known. The agreement should be presented to the union members this Wednesday morning. It is possible that the strike will continue Wednesday morning until union members have approved the deal.

Several media are now saying the union say it is not true. Contradictions everwhere atm!

[cnc]

yes idd.
swissport should fire them all. perfect time to start fresh and with decent and motivated people.
time to end the elite feeling of the bagage loaders

[9vsmu]

pls return to earth when the smoke around your head has cleared.


How ironic. UA will be handled by swissport by the end of the month "because bag transfer will go smoother"

[cnc]

pls return to earth when the smoke around your head has cleared.


How ironic. UA will be handled by swissport by the end of the month "because bag transfer will go smoother"

its only because partners at BRU are handled by swissport.
next time there is something bothering me i'll go on strike and sabotage your car and house untill my demands are met

[AirOpinion]

From the funny side of life:

[Dragon64]

They are understaffed too, you know?

too? swissport isn't understaffed. they just lost 12% of their flights and even more if you count in bags

CNC is making the point here. Swissport lost JAF with 12% off-peak traffic, looses on top 10% of the remaining flights due to the economical situation of all airlines, and looses on the dumping prices of AP.
The unions know these facts but prefer to ignore them and agitate the staff on socialist slogans to fortify their electoral base while taking the passenger as hostages.
Nothing against socialism, but fact is, there are more staff per flight than last year. In other words, less work per head. Go and ask the unions how many full time equivalent staff were employed last year same time and how many flights were handled. Or have you seen any such figures in the news?

[b720]

This is all what is wrong in this country. Soon, there will be no jobs anymore. With the exuberant taxes, theft by the state, lavish benefits, what more do these workers want? What next? they want someone to do their work
while they have their 9 coffee breaks? Had the taxes and social contributions not been as high as they are, Swissport could have hired enough people to assign 10 per aircraft! Until that happens, they must load and unload, or look for another job, or indeed stay home, and cash in on what the state hands out which is often more interesting than working??? Shame!

[flightlover]

They are understaffed too, you know?

too? swissport isn't understaffed. they just lost 12% of their flights and even more if you count in bags

CNC is making the point here. Swissport lost JAF with 12% off-peak traffic, looses on top 10% of the remaining flights due to the economical situation of all airlines, and looses on the dumping prices of AP.
The unions know these facts but prefer to ignore them and agitate the staff on socialist slogans to fortify their electoral base while taking the passenger as hostages.
Nothing against socialism, but fact is, there are more staff per flight than last year. In other words, less work per head. Go and ask the unions how many full time equivalent staff were employed last year same time and how many flights were handled. Or have you seen any such figures in the news?

So you know what airlines have to pay for handling then? Could you share that with us? I mean the handling charges are different for every airline. And since AP lost airlines to Swissport, are you sure Swissport isn't undercutting AP?

[Acid-drop]

The Freebird flights operated for Jetair this afternoon are now rerouted through Ostend instead of Liège. No decision has been taken yet for tomorrow's flights.

36 flights div to LGG since monday
http://www.rtbf.be/info/regions/detail_ ... id=7995536

[Dragon64]

too? swissport isn't understaffed. they just lost 12% of their flights and even more if you count in bags

CNC is making the point here. Swissport lost JAF with 12% off-peak traffic, looses on top 10% of the remaining flights due to the economical situation of all airlines, and looses on the dumping prices of AP.
The unions know these facts but prefer to ignore them and agitate the staff on socialist slogans to fortify their electoral base while taking the passenger as hostages.
Nothing against socialism, but fact is, there are more staff per flight than last year. In other words, less work per head. Go and ask the unions how many full time equivalent staff were employed last year same time and how many flights were handled. Or have you seen any such figures in the news?

So you know what airlines have to pay for handling then? Could you share that with us? I mean the handling charges are different for every airline. And since AP lost airlines to Swissport, are you sure Swissport isn't undercutting AP?

It was more than once stated by the Swissport management that they needed to follow the lead by AP to retain their customers. Last time for SN and JAF. Later with no success. Have no reason to doubt these statements unless somebody from SN of JAF commercial department can prove them wrong. The only airline they won from AP so far is UA and that looks like a global deal.

[RTM]

I'm sorry, but have to say, I am a bit sickened by some of the responses in this topic. Yes, it is very inconvenient to EVERYBODY involved, but who are you to deny these hard working, underpayed, and dare I say exploited, people their given right to strike?
And even worse, portray them as lazy and taking coffee breaks allday. I am really sorry, but if you have no clue to what is going on, don't comment.

[cnc]

I'm sorry, but have to say, I am a bit sickened by some of the responses in this topic. Yes, it is very inconvenient to EVERYBODY involved, but who are you to deny these hard working, underpayed, and dare I say exploited, people their given right to strike?
And even worse, portray them as lazy and taking coffee breaks allday. I am really sorry, but if you have no clue to what is going on, don't comment.

we work at the airport too you know so we do know what is going on... and underpayed and exploited? wow if you call a netto salary of 1600 to 2000 a month underpayed i wonder how many 1000's you earn. Do you even know what exploited means?

[b720]

Lazy and spoilt! Certainly not exploited. One does not chop off the hand that feeds.. Only fools
And criminals do so, wonder under what category those strikers fit!

[cnc]

besides it is well known the real cause for the strike is not the work conditions but the unions fighting to have more power at swissport.
if they want that they should buy shares and become shareholder but then a strike would hurt them too

[Flanker2]

we work at the airport too you know so we do know what is going on... and underpayed and exploited? wow if you call a netto salary of 1600 to 2000 a month underpayed i wonder how many 1000's you earn. Do you even know what exploited means?

Those people don't earn 1600-2000 net.
They earn around 1200-1400 net, plus tax credit for supporting a family.
Take your rent of 600 euro for a basic and shitty appartment in Schaarbeek out of that and you know what these people are left with.

I worked at Zaventem and I saw how these people are ov,erworked but still try to show up to the aircraft as soon as they arrive. I've never seen them take 10 coffee breaks.

Airlines and pax aren't exactly innocent either here. It's common knowledge that Flightcare undercuts AP on the service offerings. Cheaper rates equals lower service. Airlines and pax who want to save money will not always save money. Also, some pax don't see any of these savings as the airlines absorb them, but then the airline can only blame themselves for taking the cheaper option.
Swissport is at fault because they took over Flightcare, but with Flightcare they also took over those cheap contracts and they can't increase staffing until they can renegotiate those contracts without losing money.

The government and the airport also have a hand in this for only allowing 2 handlers at BRU.

[RTM]

Those people don't earn 1600-2000 net.
They earn around 1200-1400 net, plus tax credit for supporting a family.
Take your rent of 600 euro for a basic and shitty appartment in Schaarbeek out of that and you know what these people are left with.

I worked at Zaventem and I saw how these people are ov,erworked but still try to show up to the aircraft as soon as they arrive. I've never seen them take 10 coffee breaks.

Thanks Flanker. For once I am with you.
And as far as the regaining of power by the unions go. Well, you cannot organise a strike to this level if the working people aren't very willing to participate. And why are they willing to participate..., Yes,... indeed...

Please show some respect to these people.
And no, it is not convenient at all to me.