EasyJet pilots threaten more strikes

EasyJet pilots will soon be striking again, Joost van Doesburg of pilots union VNV said to NU.nl on Friday. "I can't say when the actions will take place exactly. The judge implemented a ban for the next two days, but actions will follow shortly", he said. According to Van Doesburg, the actions may span months, but will only be announced six hours in advance so that easyJet can't hire temp pilots as replacements as the airline did in the first strike. The union feels that more strikes are necessary because negotiations hit a dead end "on all fronts". "We set reasonable requirements, but too little happens at easyJet. It is regrettable that the traveler is now suffering, but we've been negotiating for more than a year." VNV members started labor actions in early June in an attempt to get a better collective bargaining agreement. The union believes that the 72 pilots based in Amsterdam have to fly too many hours a month. According to the union, the airline also pays too little contribution to the pilots' pension and sick leave often does not get paid.