Croatia Airlines' pilots, cabin crew and mechanics have announced plans to stage industrial action in late June or early July after talks with the management over a new collective bargaining agreement collapsed on Monday. In a statement, the union said, "The unsuccessful negotiating process between Croatia Airlines' management and unions representing pilots, cabin crew and mechanics came to an end on Monday June 11. After a year and a half, we have exhausted all possibilities for a deal to be reached since we do not have a serious partner to talk to. All conditions have been met for industrial action to take place. Both the public and our passengers will be informed of the planned developments in the coming period".
The planned industrial action will be the first in five years at the airline. In May 2013, unions staged an eight-day walkout, paralysing the carrier and its operations. It ended with the signing of a new collective agreement which expired eighteen months ago. Last month, the Workers Organisation of Croatia Airlines (ORCA) warned it would stage industrial action during the summer when the carrier handles the bulk of its annual traffic after unions described the company as being on the "verge of collapse", a claim the management has disputed. In a letter issued yesterday, the union noted, "Years of bad decision making and the stubborn refusal to accept any facts or constructive criticism has led the company into a managerial crisis where flights cannot be performed by our own aircraft and crew". Croatia Airlines has cancelled over 180 flights this year due to a lack of operational aircraft, caused by a shortage of staff within its maintenance division. The union noted that flights are still being cancelled and the airline has been forced to conclude a number of costly short-term wet-leases of aircraft and staff in order to maintain its schedule.
The ORCA union is requesting a wage increase for flight crew between 20% to 30%, as well as an annual salary boost of 4% for pilots over the duration of the new collective agreement. The union has also asked for extended holiday leave and for seasonal cabin crew to be given fixed contracts after years of service for the airline. On the other hand, Croatia Airlines' management has made some concessions but has proposed for the extension of the existing collective agreement until the end of the year so a new one could be negotiated after the peak summer months. It claims that if the unions' demands were to be met, it would set the company back some 4.3 million euros.
Croatia Airlines recorded a net loss of 11.4 million euros during the first quarter. The carrier will seek a privatisation consultant in the coming weeks after the government decided to sell the company.
This is a sad development, but probably the only solution now left to the employees.
ReplyDeleteAgree! No more messing around! Full support to the union!
DeleteAgree! Full support!
DeleteFull steam ahead to their demise! Smart decision!
DeleteThey will so collapse!
DeleteIt's too bad because it could be a good airline. However staff is super stubborn - living in socialist Utopia, and management is stupid as hell. It's a dead airline !
what socialist Utopia? To have reasonable working conditions is now socialist Utopia? Well, there is of course the capitalist Distopia we are all living in ...
DeleteSure thing, they just want to have high salaries and benefits. Who's going to pay?
DeleteHuge? They have lowest salaries in EU.
DeleteHuge compared to the rest of the population. If they want higher salaries let them leave the company and fly for another. Maybe someone else who wants to stay in Croatia will fly for less.
DeleteMaybe your employer should firefire and eventually hire someone for less. I'm sure there would be plenty that would do your job for less money.
DeleteMaybe that is true. If my employer fires me I'll deal with that in due time. For time being I'm not complaining about my job and salary. Thank you for your consideration.
DeleteAnonymous 5:13 PM
DeleteThis is the exact attitude that destroyed Venezuela.
I don't find any connection to Venezuela. I'm aware of the reality of Croatia and I know I can't expect large salary in a poor country. I could leave Croatia and work for a larger salary but I appreciate value added aspects of living in Croatia. Money is not everything.
DeletePeople should reject the race to the bottom! Stuff are right to ask for higher salaries! I hear that employers all over Croatia are complaining that nobody wants to work. That is not the case, it just depends whether they want to offer adequate salaries that match living costs and expectations of prospective workers.
DeleteWell perhaps it is the right time for some employers to go bust. I would be glad if that would happen with Croatia Airlines. Then finally some LCC would remove their privileged position at ZAG.
DeleteFull support!
DeleteOU workers have been waiting for too long, they should strike exactly during summer season and be persistent since we have a lousy government! Support to the union!
DeletePurger is one of the guests in HRT 1 political debate "Otvoreno" about Croatia airlines, tonight at 10 pm!
DeleteI sincerely hope OU employees will strike all summer long. Once they decide to return to work there will be nothing left to return to.
Deletewow way to go in the middle of the busiest part of the year...
ReplyDeleteTo nije njihov problem.
DeleteIt will just give customers more reasons to choose the competition as more reliable carrier.
DeleteI to nije njihov problem. Kompanija treba da brine o tome
DeleteSure, but no revenue = no money for salaries. You don't need a PhD in economics to understand this.
DeleteSome people still live in socialism, obviously, where money came out of thin air. RIP Croatia Airlines!
DeleteReally?! Wouldn't ever think of it that way.
DeleteThe Union had more than enough patience with these incompetent screwups. And if the strike happens, Butković should resign, but he certainly won't.
Bravo, frishki! The government had plenty of time to solve things, but didn't, now they should face the consequences!
DeleteI hope Butkovic will do smart thing and close the company. There are others who can do the job more efficiently.
Deleteyou all smart asses...it takes a minute to kill an airliner and ages to make one. Is the fault on employees side? NO! They said many times they don't wan't to run the company, they just want to work. And besides, how many industrial actions Lufthansa pilots staged in last few years? Was that the end of Lufthansa?
DeleteI hope EW will take the remaining parts of CA and finally we're done with blood suckers!
DeleteUnfortunately if OU collapse all the concept based on attracting long haul could collapse too. Who would fly all the koreans to Pula, Split, Dubrovnik? Eurowings? Don't think so.
DeleteWhen there is a demand there will be a supply. No worries!
Delete@anon 12:16
DeleteMaybe Trade air steps in and introduces more/new domestic flights?
What a shame, hope it won't last long.
ReplyDeleteThe last one lasted 8 days so I am not very optimistic that it will be short.
DeleteThe only way to avoid the strike is for the government to name a new CEO.
ReplyDeleteButkovic said two weeks ago he would do it during that week and nothing has happened.
DeleteIn August he said everything will be solved till end of December. Nothing! Then he ask for another delay till end of April. Again did nothing!
DeleteSo, someone believe that this time he is telling true?
Crazy decision in summer.
ReplyDeleteIt's the only way they can force the government to listen.
DeleteThis will be the last nail in the coffin of the public money eating moloch. Happy days for people of Croatia!!!
DeleteNe nego treba pustiti politicare da vecito za******ju ovaj napaceni narod sirom Balkana kako bi njihovo poltroni i naslednici imali gde da "rade" i ubiraju lovu.
DeleteThe ORCA union is requesting a wage increase for flight crew between 20% to 30%, as well as an annual salary boost of 4% for pilots over the duration of the new collective agreement.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nonsense.... Shortsighted unions
They are asking for their wages to be increased for the first time in 9 years. What is the problem with that?
DeleteAnd what is the problem with that? Salaries all over the region need to start growing otherwise all who can will leave.
DeleteNo problem, except that OU can't afford it judging by operating activities. Perhaps if they sell few slots
DeleteIf they cannot afford to pay PILOTS, then their business model is broken and they should close up shop.
DeleteThey can afford to pay pilots the current salaries - but they can't afford to pay plus 20% and each year 4% more on top again.
DeleteThis is an attempt of special war against Croatia under foreign influence. I'm sure efficient measures will be taken against this mutiny!
Delete" special war against Croatia under foreign influence"...ahahahahaahaha...good one :)
DeleteLaugh as much as you like. Do you think that all those actions like stopping the vehicles in Serbia and now this in Croatia are by chance? Yeah, right!!!
DeleteOU staff need to go and do some work, the lazy people. Twenty to thirty percent increase in salary? What planet are they on? Making stupid demands like that will lead to the collapse of the airline.
ReplyDeleteThey have the right to strike!
DeleteSure they have, as well as right to find a new job after the company goes bankrupt due to strike in the middle of summer season.
Delete+100
DeleteNobody can play with working people rights , just because there are some freaks in this blog , who only cares if Croatia airlines have some 2.3 millions passengers or more revenue this year !
DeleteThey ask for 30% in order to get 15%. This is negotiation 101.
DeleteThey will get zero and then they can pack their suitcases and go to Ireland to clean the toilets. Good career progress!
DeleteWow. You must be sitting in OU board.
DeleteThey certainly won't be cleaning toilets, be sure of that. There's a shortage of pilots and cabin crew and I'm certain they'll find something better.
I'm from Croatia, worked for OU and left, because was not satisfied. Now work for EU airline bigger salary, payed 4star accomodation, payed flights home and back to the base, 3 weeks work 1 week off, repeat cabin crew, not pilot, because of shortage of crews as frishki said, so please leave us alone with ireland toalet cleaning stories, and yes, considering circumstances it's good time for industrial action. Full support. If they manage to at least correct some things, I might even be back
DeletePlease do not return! We're happy that you're doing so good, it would be a disaster to throw that away!
Deletewas the employee's fault that somebody plans DHC8 on route MUC-ZAG few days before Xmas/New Year, when they could fly A388 due to seat demand. Is it their fault that government is constantly installing some half idiots to run the airline and then they are surprised if things don't work? The State decided that Croatia needs a flag airliner, so its high time to support it as well. But it is just a kindergarten for them...
DeleteAnon 11:10AM
DeleteYou must be so bitter behind that little screen.
And you must be bending backwards when your boss treats you like a moron and pays you half of what you should make. Or better yet, you're that boss. That makes more sense, actually.
Why do poor citizens of Croatia have to pay the high salaries and all the benefits of the employees of CA? Let them work on the market, we can fly with other companies.
DeleteAn. 11.10
DeleteI am the one 10.55. Just to tell you I tried to "fight" for our right while I was there, but thanks to your kind, I couldn't do anything. People like you are one of the reasons I left. If you are jealous of my good working conditions, I am so sorry you don't have courage enough, or knowledge enough, to try it yourself. And if your response is the way to thank me for the support I gave, it tells everything about you, not me. Have a nice life !
I wish you all the best abroad. I know it was not easy to leave. But hey, it is not easy for me to change either. So both of us got the best of life. We should love each other. Peace!
DeleteLakse no sto mislis.
DeleteNo ono sto je tesko, kad se takvi poput tebe pozovu meni za stol na pivo pa kukaju po cjele dane....e to je tesko za slusat.
Žao mi je ako ti ljudi kukaju za stolom. To nije lijepo od njih. Pričao bih još s tobom ali evo moram pokupiti novce od turista pa me skužaj. Triba i radit danas, a e!
Deletesmanjite place upravi i slicinima na prosjek i eto love za ove koji stvarno zaraduju
ReplyDeleteBravo Hrvatska
ReplyDeleteThis could really hurt OU's finances. They can't afford it.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Hope they manage to avert the strike.
DeleteI hope not. Let them kill themselves!
DeleteThere goes the planned 1 million profit for 2018.
ReplyDeleteDestructive idea.
ReplyDeleteLast time they wanted to strike it was announced that they would operate 5 plane - 3 Airbuses and the 2 leased CRJs.
ReplyDeleteBut they would probably wet lease crew and planes so the disruption might not be that big.
DeleteI highly doubt they will wet lease 6 planes. They would go bankrupt that way.
DeleteDepends on the length of the strike, couple of days wouldn't hurt them as much I guess.
DeleteWill this strike just affect Zagreb or their entire network, coast included?
ReplyDeleteOf course it will
DeleteJust fire them all and get people who will actually work for that pay and those hours. I am sure thousands would.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to your suggestion being stupid and inhumane, it's also illegal. The right to strike is guaranteed by law and international agreements.
DeleteSute it is ... they can be also fired as a technology surplus and then new positions open just having a different name. How about that?
DeleteVery easy to bring down in court.
DeleteVecina "kapitalista" razmislja kao @9:56AM ne razmisljajuci kako se tesko dolazi do velikih para. Tipicno za ceo Balkan.
DeleteSure there are thousands waiting. That is why Ryanair, Norwegian, Austrian, Swiss, easyJet, Emirates and others canceled thousands of flights and are desperate for pilots and mechanics. In this moment companies worldwide ask for 15.000 pilots. And potential pilot will choose Croatia instead of Emirates, Lufthansa, Delta, Air China...
DeleteOf course you can name "pilot" into "courier". How stupid is idea that you announce technology surplus and then new positions open just having a different name for pilots, cabin craw and mechanics? The most stupid idea I ever heard.
Deletewow so much compassion from all of you people.
ReplyDeletehaha I'm surprised that no one is on the side of the workers.
DeletePilots job market is as best as it can be. Anybody is free to change the company they work for, as in any other industry.
DeleteI'm really surprised how people expect to work for 1 airline for their entire career, yet people in other jobs change companies every 5-10 years or so and it is deemed completely normal.
Sure, but those companies are in same country or even city. It is not that easy to work in China, UEA, even in England. Not easy to leave family, children, friends, old and sick parents, flat... And what for? Because management is incompetent in public company, and government can not choose CEO for one and half year.
DeleteThere is no future for a national carrier in Croatia. Face it finally!
DeleteHow do you know being a pilot is the best job that can be? Have you ever been/worked as a pilot? I think you’ll be surprised how demanding the job is on your life, family and even sanity! There a very few commercial pilots these days who are ‘pampered’ and get all the old school perks but this covers maybe 10% of commercial pilots and this figure gets lower all the time. Many pilots I know, old friends and colleges question if it is worth it all the time and many have decided that it is not and have changed careers... Me being one of them.
DeleteRead the post again, I said the market is the best, not the job itself. And yes, I’m a professional pilot myself, working outside of my home country.
DeleteIt‘s better if OU employees bring this airline down for good, then to leave this satisfaction to incompetent managaments or governments
ReplyDeleteI give you credit for this statement - that is one way how to look at it.
DeleteOnly in ex-Yu is company staff determined to sink the company they work for.
ReplyDeleteAnd in Lufthansa they strike every month. Same in Air France.
DeleteYou could also argue that the management is determined to sink the company.
DeleteThere is a big, big difference to strikes in Lufthansa for example. Employees there can easily afford to strike and the airline can afford the loss of millions caused by the strike. Actually it could afford 500 million loss due to a strike without any real issue.
DeleteI think that is a bit different regarding an airline in big financial trouble such as OU.
Yes because LH is a properly run airline unlike these Balkan political project airlines.....so don't bring in LH to the table please.
DeleteIma OU zrakomlatove?
ReplyDeleteNema.
DeleteZrakomlat. Lol.
DeleteWhat is a zrakomlat? Lol
Deletehelikopter
DeleteSo management has the choice of bankrupting the company by allowing the strike to sink the company or by giving into their ridiculous demand of 20-30% salary increase + 4% annual bonus.
ReplyDeleteI don't care which airline you are, no one would be able to cope with an immediate 20-30% salary increase; this would need to be phased in over years...
This failed company needs to be closed once and for good!
DeleteNo increase of salary for 9 years, but in same time cuts in 2011 for restructuration.
Delete1/2 of mechanics and 1/3 of pilots leave company.
Inform yourself better....Delta did 30% last year...many other airlines did as well. World wide shortage plus airlines were making a killing over the last few years due to cheap fuel
Deletethe workers have all the rights to strike. good luck!
ReplyDeletei see a lot of paid sandwiches are posting here today i see (but easy to recognise)
Let them strike. Who cares?
DeleteNobody is denying people their right to strike. But they need to be aware of the consequences (I'm not talking about people being punished for strikes). OU will have to wet lease aircraft at short notice or pay out compensations to passengers, both of which is not cheap and damages the reputation, which has further effect on revenue and sales in the future.
ReplyDeleteWith lower revenue there might not be money to pay all the salaries at the current level, etc.
Ciji je to problem?
DeleteCovek lupeta. Kompanije ne rade na taj nacin. Posto natezu profit godinama odavno bi zatvorili radnju.
DeleteOUR Croatia Airlines Ltd. u fazi restrukturiranja i početne akumulacije kapitala...
ReplyDeleteThey should have organized this strike last year when OU sold its slots. Don't see how they will finance this extra expense unless their revenue and yields are both on the rise.
ReplyDeleteSelling those slots was actually a smart move.
DeletePilots are the same as bus drivers and cabin attendants are the same as waitresses. So pay them in similar fashion, the planes are flying themselves anyway!
ReplyDeleteOh! Why didn't you say so earlier, I'd apply. I can drive a car, bus can't be much different, therefore - I can be a pilot. Duh!
DeleteThe pilots are the remnants of the past, soon nobody will need them anyway. Even today they are doing nothing for most of the time. Poor waste to pay them a lot.
DeleteI bet your job is super important. For typing BS online you don't need school. Bet you wasted 8 years of your life.
DeleteWhy do you show so much anger? Are you part of CA? Will you strike? Will you have a job soon if you do?
DeleteSad ozbiljno. Dva pilota su cist visak u kabini posebno na kratkim letovima po Jevropi. Jedan je dovoljan i neko iz posade ko zna ukljuciti autopilota za sletanje ako mu se nesto desi.
DeleteYou call it anger, I call it replying to your deprecatory comment regarding someone's profession.
DeleteAnd of course you have no other reply but "am I a part of CA". BTW, it is OU.
My comment is that that company would be long gone if it was left to market. It is time to die and for all those who have sucked the life out of it to look for another job. Including plane drivers and plane waitresses. Regardless if it is CA for Croatia Airlines or OU for their IATA code.
DeleteIf anyone sucked the life of OU, not CA - are the incompetent CEOs and their proteges, not the staff. Any they will go for another job and probably the same one, but outside the country where they will be paid as they should be paid.
DeleteSo what's the problem then? They should go where they will be better paid and have better employment. They just need to resign from the company and apply somewhere else. Go Johhny go!
DeleteAs long as Croatia Airlines exists it will be a tool to suck the money out of Croatian people pockets. Let the beast die finally!
DeleteToliko o hrvatskoj lisnici u hrvatskom dzepu.
DeleteAgli uhljebs are iting our moni!!
DeleteAsk passengers who were evacuated on AF358 and many others, if they consider Cabin Crews as waitresses?!
DeletePlanes can fly by itself, but someone has to make them fly and it only works till everything is fine.
I think people with such a statements/mentality are the root cause of the situation the states are in.
If vehicles can be made autonomous the planes can do as well. Nothing special about pilots or cabin crews. With the advent of more advanced technology the pilots will disappear and cabin crew will turn to be just that, waiters and waitresses.
DeleteWow so much jaleousy and plain lack of understanding and information on here.....yeah just turn on the autopilot and go.....wow!
DeleteJealousy on flying bus drivers? Get out of here man!
Delete“but has proposed for the extension of the existing collective agreement until the end of the year so a new one could be negotiated after the peak summer months.”
ReplyDeleteFool me one shame on you... fool me twice shame on me!
Fully support the workers here! The management had plenty of time but somehow thought this issue would just what..., Disappear?? Really hopeless on the maneagnents part!
In terms of how much what the workers are asking would cost, I would like to know how much due to management incompetence is it costing OU per year to pay for those NEO’s which are generating zero revenue? I said it before and I’ll say it again, this alone would be enough to replace the management! IMHO
A strike in the middle of summer will destroy OU. Pretty reckless if they want to hold on to their jobs. They should have done this a few months ago. And I am supposed to fly with them around this proposed strike period. If I am stranded due to strike action I will never set foot in an OU plane ever again even if the company manages to survive.
ReplyDeleteThat is why when i booked our vacation, i made sure were mot on CTN. Coming from yyz. Connection via zag was 7 hra fot dbv. Instead we transfee in muc with Lh
DeletePeople here are either dumb AF or hypocrite AF or even more so - both. If they would find themselves in the similar situation, they'd do absolutely the same thing - fight for their rights. So damn smart from their cosy nerd chairs spewing wisdom. Barf.
ReplyDeletetreba da otvore tender za pravljenja kučkove statue o blata ispred sedišta kompanije
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of that fairy tale where the little boy cried wolf one too many times.
ReplyDeleteNothing at all will happen.
Staff huff and puff threatening to blow the house down and mgt/Govt will eventually calm the nerves with empty promises (again) to solve this impasse.
So it will be a Mexican standoff.
Staff can't afford to risk the very existence of the company - and ultimately, their livelihoods - while the Govt can't continue to ignore legitimate demands of the very people who allow the company to function.
So how do they go forward ???
Simple - ignore it in the hope that it will go away or at the very least, kick the tin can down the road (yet again) and deal with it "later".
In the end, the elephant in the room NEVER gets addressed - which is that the company is insolvent and needs radical surgery in order to ensure that it has any sort of future.
True. An incompetent party „uhljeb“ or some „Borg“ businessman in a conflict of interest will be appointed as CEO. Eventually. After a day of two of strike the government or court will impose a work obligation arguing that it is a serious threat to tourist season. In the end nothing will change.
DeleteThose who complain about salaries are incompetent. Otherwise they would leave already. No worries those will leave, they need to be fired instead.
DeleteI guess that the major airlines will definitely take over. All the small ones have issues.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Look at the massive airline consolidation in the US over the last maybe 20-25 years or so. 3 big ones left. Everything else was crushed, went bankrupt, were bought or "integrated".
DeleteShows you what has started happening in Europe.
Nope. Not gonna happen. Much more complex and above all not one but numerous narions
Deletenations*
DeleteBaš me zanima bi li štrajkali i imali pravo na štrajk da rade za neku privatnu kompaniju. Pa dobili bi odmah nogu u guzicu. Mene da šef pošalje na tržnicu kupit kilo blitve prihvatio bi bez razmišljanja. Ovako kad radiš za državnu firmu možeš šta hoćeš pa i bankrotirati zbog štrajka. Šta ih briga ...
ReplyDeleteTo su obični uhljebi koje bi trebalo poslati na burzu da zarade kunu na tržištu. Ovako na svaku kunu koju spiskaju država daje dvije. Iz džepa svih ljudi koji ih teško zarađuju.
DeletePa to hodaj šefu po blitvu. Vidim, škola se isplatila.
DeleteJa bih sve državne firme poklonio za kunu uz obavezu da se novi vlasnici riješe uhljeba. Sve bi u Hrvatskoj procvjetalo.
DeleteSve osim Croatije, ona bi bila ko 3K Adria - jednako kilava.
DeleteBeskicmenjak
DeleteKakav nizak nivo svesti o ljudskim pravima i gomila opstih mesta o javnom sektoru.
DeleteUhljebi nemaju prava. To su krvopije koje treba skinuti s državne sise.
DeleteA ti si jedna obicna neobrazovana budala koja jedino i zaslužuje da nosi blitvu svom sefu....jadan si kad ljude koji su profesionalci nazivas tako. A ne ovde iz menadzmenta....ne oni su svu mudrost sveta pokupili. Yeah right...
DeleteProfesionalni vozač letećeg autobusa. D kategorija. Za godinu ili dvije totalno nepotrebno zanimanje.
DeleteDa hmmm i njihova će se škola isplatit kad ostanu bez posla. Ne da će promijenit grad morat će i državu kad ostanu bez posla jer drugog neće naći
ReplyDeleteMa naravno.
DeleteSamo se nadaj da ti neki novopridošli Indijac ne otme radno mjesto.
Do tada - adijo!
Zamisli samo kad uskoro avioni uopće ne budu trebali pilote. Pa svi ovi uhljebi počnu prekvalifikaciju za pjevače.
DeleteKoliko si ti ljubomoran covek vidi se iz aviona....Frishki ne vredi sa budalama diskutovati.
DeleteLjubomoran na vozače letećeg autobusa? Hahaha ... get real man!
DeleteSometimes, pictures speak better than words - http://www.dnevno.hr/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/aaaaaaa.jpg
ReplyDeleteA gle čuda, kod njega nije bilo štrajka.
DeleteFlying Socialism
ReplyDeleteBravo zrakoplovci! Odlične vizije i uprava i sindikata sa ovih prostora; "Dao bog da nama ili susjedima crkla krava!" :) Uživajte dok možete...
ReplyDeleteCrkla je njima krava muzara samo šta to još ne znaju.
Delete