“On the contrary, a responsible dialogue between employers, who take the decisions that are expected, and union leaders, who play the only card of compromise and negotiation, is a real asset”, he added during a visit to Le Havre, north France.
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Philippe Evain, president of the SNPL union, which represents more than 70 per cent of Air France pilots, said on Tuesday (Oct 6) that he’s ready to resume talks “as soon as all the players that can have an influence are present” – and that that should include the French state, with its 15.9 per cent stake.
Human resources manager Xavier Broseta “was nearly lynched”, according to one union delegate, and had his shirt ripped off as he clambered over a fence to safety, helped by security guards.
With images of the shirtless executives splashed around the world, France’s Socialist government anxious about damage to the country’s image.
Seven people were hurt, including a security guard who was knocked unconscious and required hospital treatment.
The BBC reports that Air France-KLM, the parent company to Air France, said it would take action against the employees that committed the “aggregated violence” against the executives.
“The airline later confirmed the job losses as part of a big restructuring plan dubbed “Perform 2020″ that also involved several routes to India and south-east Asia being cut in 2017”.
Air France, once a proud symbol of French elegance and technical know-how, is struggling to compete in the face of intense competition from global rivals, not least Germany’s Lufthansa, and the combined forces of British Airways and Iberia in Europe.
On Monday, Air France said the long-haul business would be reduced by 10 percent, with the fleet down by 14 aircraft to 93.
The company had already shed 5,500 posts through voluntary departures between 2012 and 2014.
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Vidalies defended the management’s plans for the airline, saying: “On the stock market front, its market value has shrunk to 2 billion (euros) from 7 billion, so it’s a company that is fragile”.
