As expected and announced on Wednesday 25 April 2018, 2017 was a record year and we would like to congratulate everybody for their dedicated commitment to Cargolux.
Today we see a booming economy after 9 years of uncertainty mainly caused by the economic crash in late 2008. Additional pressure that we as employees have experienced during this period was the antitrust proceedings against many cargo airlines including Cargolux. These two issues have had enormous effects on our business and appeared at a time where Cargolux committed to re-equip most of our fleet of B747-400F with B747-8F.
The above items were well outside the control or authority of the employees, yet we feel, that as employees we have been penalized throughout this period with constant negotiations to cut cost. We also see that staff numbers are inadequate to enable us to support the business plan, causing CWA non-compliances and planned overtime.
Despite numerous announcements to significantly increase staffing levels, an adequate expansion did not take place. With pilots working to the maximum extend of what is legally possible, this has resulted in an all-time high workload and fatigue levels. The current employment conditions for new pilots are no longer competitive and problems arising from continuous high workloads and fatiguing work schedules are deterring prospective candidates normally interested in applying. At the same time, we see a number of qualified colleagues leaving, to an extend, that has never been the case before at Cargolux.
In the interest of all parties involved, proven rules and achievements from the past must be reinstated. These include but are not limited to an attractive remuneration scheme, which considers the cost of living in Luxembourg, a scheme that honors the experience and dedication of Cargolux pilots as well as the reintroduction of effective measures to reduce work- and fatigue levels to a durably reasonable one.
The LCGB will hence soon send a letter to Cargolux management with the request to officially start negotiations for an adjusted CWA that comprises all relevant claims of Cargolux employees.
