Fire crew strike halts all flights at BRU - strike ended

dna · Post by **dna** » 13 Apr 2007, 08:22

Spontaneous strike action by the Brussels Airport fire department has led to the suspension of all flights from 6am. The airport remains open, but most airlines prefer not to fly with no firefighting services available. The strike is over "poor people management" by Brussels airport, according to a trade union official.

Nice one guys, to go on strike without any prior notice. So much for good people management!

janhuub · Post by **janhuub** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:03

The Airport remains open, but there are no fire fighters available. How do they manage that?

Greetz

Jan

744rules · Post by **744rules** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:15

only 2 ambulances available.

Crews can land/take-off, but it's their own responsablility. This is if company policy allows.

At this times (0915lt) strike will last till 1000lt.

Numerous flights cancelled/diverted.

Aldgate · Post by **Aldgate** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:18

I suppose that BRU remains open at a lower fire category. Pilots and airlines can use the infrastructure but the emergency services available are less or nonexistent. Using the airport under these circumstances is something most airlines won't do.

Nice one guys, to go on strike without any prior notice. So much for good people management!

Don't get on their case about this. Sometimes a strike is the only way to get management's attention. I saw what happened when the management of BRU was privatised (RLW/RVA -> BIAC) and I am not sure that it was a good thing. Especially the 'airside safety' side of things is not something that benefits from privatisation.

LX-LGX · Post by **LX-LGX** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:23

So once again, thousands of passengers are used as hostage, just to get a salary increase. Shame on them.

And shame on all those who will say they understand this action. There is not a single reason why passengers may be used as playball in a syndical action.

Post by **sn26567** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:24

Aldgate wrote:Sometimes a strike is the only way to get management's attention.

Yes, but as long as it is announced with a sufficient notice in order for travellers and airlines to make alternative arrangements. Here they are taken as hostages and could incur substantial losses through no fault on their part. Unacceptable!

dna · Post by **dna** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:26

Nice one guys, to go on strike without any prior notice. So much for good people management!

Don't get on their case about this.

My point was that I find unannounced strikes completely out of order. Thousands of people are being held hostage. Is it so much to ask for prior notice to be given?

Aldgate · Post by **Aldgate** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:40

I don't want to start a discussion about striking, announced or unannounced. I just know that the situation is a lot more complicated than we can asses from outside of the company. We have no idea how the people of the fire department and airport safety are treated by their management.
I understand that it is not fair to the passengers and i agree that a well planned and announced strike would be a lot more manageable.
I think that a discussion about the place of airside safety and rescue services in a private company could be more interesting. (maybe in another thread?) To the managers these services only cost them money. They forget sometimes how essential they are.

JAFflyer · Post by **JAFflyer** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:47

Aldgate wrote: Don't get on their case about this. Sometimes a strike is the only way to get management's attention.

This is just an outrage!!! on one of the busiest weekends of the year until now, they pull a stunt like that.
Is it the airlines fault? NO, is it the pax fault: NO
Then why on earth do they have to suffer for an internal struggle at brussels airport.
Really, this puts Belgium right on the top of aviation again

Post by **luchtzak** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:50

Just listened to the radio, might take a few more hours before the dispute is solved.

Guess I am not the only one to look at arrivals and departures, http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/flightinfo/arrivals/ takes ages to load....

Post by **ElcoB** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:53

JAFflyer wrote:...
This is just an outrage!!!
...

Yes indeed.
Fireman are people too, did you ask them about their outrage ?

JAFflyer · Post by **JAFflyer** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:06

ElcoB wrote:
JAFflyer wrote:...
This is just an outrage!!!
...
Yes indeed.
Fireman are people too, did you ask them about their outrage ?

I have total respect for firemen and their work. But for a stunt like this, I have no respect whatsoever. This is just low and selcentered. Thousands of pax, thousands of euros for the airlines... I'm sorry but nothing can justify that, especially not the timing and the lack of announcing of this action.

regi · Post by **regi** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:20

Why is it that you don't see strikes in companies where they donate bonusses for "good work" at the end of the year?

Post by **sn26567** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:23

luchtzak wrote:Guess I am not the only one to look at arrivals and departures, http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/flightinfo/arrivals/ takes ages to load....

Is the webmaster of Brussels Airport also considered as safety personnel and on strike? I never managed to reach the site.

A good alternative is to look at the teletext on VRT http://tt.vrt.be/tt_een.php?p=380/1&g=0&s=0&r=0&x=1
or RTBF http://www.rtbf.be/teletexte/index.htm (pages 597-598)

Tompompier · Post by **Tompompier** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:27

May I add that it's not only fire brigade who's on strike.... also Security is on strike.

Tompompier

Post by **speedbird1** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:34

Just seen the Brussels Airport site and there is sheer chaos. The site just crashed as well! Another great day for Belgian aviation!

Emirates

airazurxtror · Post by **airazurxtror** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:37

Aldgate wrote:We have no idea how the people of the fire department and airport safety are treated by their management.

What we have an idea about is that they don't risk anything.
People working in private company risk their job if the strike harms too much the company they work for.
Not so for those employed in a public administration; the fire department won't go bankrupt ! And the firemen will get a strike pay from the union. And a day off, with a very fine weather to enjoy !
Thus, all the disagreement will be for the paying passengers, once more.
(By the way, is it a "force majeure" for the airlines ?)

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:37

Emirates wrote:Just seen the Brussels Airport site and there is sheer chaos. The site just crashed as well! Another great day for Belgian aviation!

Emirates

ooh well, it's Friday the 13th

Post by **sn26567** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:38

airazurxtror wrote:By the way, is it a "force majeure" for the airlines?

Yes!

suppie · Post by **suppie** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:41

Just heard that DL124 got clearance to depart from AMS so it seems they start to work again