The Finnish Pilots’ Association (Suomen Liikennelentäjäliitto, SLL) announced on Wednesday that they would expand industrial action in December.
The move comes in response to employer-imposed lockout days amidst ongoing labor disputes. According to SLL, Finnair is pursuing measures to outsource pilot jobs.
You can access Finnair here.
Strikes Scheduled for December
Pilots will hold 24-hour strikes on December 9 and 13, potentially impacting Finnair’s flight operations. The first strike will involve captains, while the second will involve co-pilots. Additionally, a ban on standby duty will commence on December 5.
EC 261/2004 Compensation
Finnair is required to compensate passengers if their flight is canceled and they are delayed in arriving at their final destination.
Employee strikes are not considered extraordinary, as they are within the airline’s control.
The airline must rebook affected passengers to their final destination without delays, even if this means moving them to other airlines.
Finnair would be on the hook for accommodation and meal expenses as well.
Conclusion
Finnair has already partially outsourced its flight attendants on Asian routes. These attendants work on local contracts for various staffing agencies and are not directly employed by the airline.
It is unclear what cockpit functions Finnair would like to outsource and how. Are they planning a Ryanair-style structure where pilots work for various country entities with variable salaries?
Strikes in Finland are usually resolved before they occur, but you should monitor this if you are flying with them around the affected dates. Possible long-haul cancellations affect the return rotations.
And I have seven flights coming up with Finnair next month….
