Norwegian Air Shuttle may face a damaging strike by cabin crew as it gears up to launch its first transatlantic flights from the UK.
Crew union Parat claims the airline is threatening to close bases in Norway and forcibly transfer staff in Denmark to an employment agency over the next three years. Staff also face a cut in benefits, including their entitlement to free flights.
Parat says Norwegian wants to end collective pay negotiations and split staff into several smaller unions. Around 1,200 cabin crew members in Norway and Denmark could strike. If action does take place, it is expected before the end of the month.
The publicity that this will attract could be damaging to the airline in the build-up to the start of its long-haul services from Gatwick in July, when Norwegian will offer New York, Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles.
A spokesperson for Norwegian said: "Parat has put forward demands that are impossible to meet. They have not been willing to negotiate, instead they give ultimatums.
"Norwegian has tried to find solutions, but the management of the company, while always wanting to listen to the needs of its employees, cannot allow itself to be controlled by the unions. The changes in the company structure have been made secure everyone’s jobs for the future.
"Norwegian will do whatever it can to make sure passengers are being taken care of should the strike escalate further. It is also important to note that a strike will not affect Norwegian’s long-haul routes, neither will it affect our operations from our London Gatwick base."
Gary Noakes
