We would like to inform you that the LCGB together with the OGBL has decided to go for the next step in the CWA negotiations and initiate the conciliation process, as defined in the Luxembourgish labor law. Thus, a letter to the Office National de Conciliation (ONC) was sent by both Unions on 2 January 2019 asking for their involvement in the current labor negotiations in Cargolux.
For you to understand why this step was necessary, we would like to give you a short overview of what has happened in the last six months.
The CWA negotiations started in June 2018 and in July both Unions presented their list of claims to the company, whereas no list was received from management.
From the very beginning both negotiation teams had the impression that management was neither ready nor prepared to negotiate seriously. This impression was confirmed by an email sent by the CEO to the employees on 31 July 2018, stating that no more meetings would be scheduled until further notice.
In order to continue negotiations and to pressure management to restart the process, the Unions had to repudiate the current CWA in August 2018. As a result, after a break of 3 months and the initiation of the “100% compliance with your CWA “campaign by us pilots, the negotiations continued with a one day meeting in September and 2 day meetings – one day for the ground staff and one day for the pilots – in October, November and December 2018, representing a grand total of 7 days of negotiations.
In the last three meetings the discussions were held in a respectful manner – which should be the norm anyway – and some subjects like FTLs, the so called B-scale, or the B2B scheduling were touched. However, disappointingly, after the December meeting it became clear, that no real progress could be achieved. At the same time, many other problems and items, which were identified by you, our members, were not even discussed.
For the negotiation teams these facts represented sparse results if any, after more than six months since the start of the CWA negotiations.
By involving the ONC, the aim is to find acceptable solutions for the identified problems and concerns. Solutions which are well deserved by the employees after such a long time period and considering the record profits that the CEO is expecting for 2018.
We have been prepared to engage into serious talks and to sign a new CWA to address many of the current grievances in a satisfactory manner. At the same time and in order to avoid any further escalation, we see an urgent necessity for management to stop their stalling-strategy and to give the negotiation-process the priority it deserves.
