President of TAP says strike by pilots will bring “consequences … – publico

                 

                         
                     

                         
                     

                         

                 

 
                         

The president of TAP wrote a letter to employees, in which warns of “serious consequences” that a strike by pilots may result. The letter, which the PUBLIC had access, comes hours before the union meet to decide whether to forward a strike, arguing that the company and the government failed to meet the commitments. A charge that Fernando Pinto denies.

                     

                          In the letter, the president of the airline begins by explaining that the possibility of a strike caused “natural alarm and concern” and said to be obliged to “provide details” on the reasons given by the pilots, saying translate ‘a incomprehensible breach of commitments “in December. At that time, nine unions, including pilots, reached agreement with the Government on a number of safeguards for workers if the TAP be privatized. An understanding that led to the cancellation of a strike four days between Christmas and the New Year.

The letter clarifies the company’s position in relation to the arguments of the Civil Aviation Pilots’ Union (SPAC), who accused the Government, TAP and PGA (regional company owned by TAP) of failing to two appointments, which did not appear in the December agreement: the return of the frozen seniority since 2011 and the delivery of 10% to 20 % of the airline’s capital.

“In PGA, some materials [requested by pilots] clearly extravasavam the subject of the signed memorandum [in December] or respected the subjects never previously presented or discussed, and the SPAC unexpectedly terminated the negotiations, “describes Fernando Pinto.

Already in negotiations with TAP,” SPAC initially identified 14 points, which was successively adding others, totaling 24 in the last received document ” explains the president of the company

Fernando Pinto states that there were two points on which “could not any agreement”. the only compensation for loss of annuities between 2011 and 2015 and still claim the merger at maturity automatically and immediately after privatization, for the future, the five annuities.

The Brazilian manager reports that “at the last meeting held on 27 March, the SPAC assumed irreducible position on these issues, putting end to negotiations. ” This despite TAP admitted giving pilots a single monetary compensation, “but conditioned the evolution of profitability.” On the full return of annuities, Fernando Pinto describes that “this point was rejected” and “lacks legal basis.”

On the issue of participation of the pilots in the capital of TAP, the company’s president says “only just became aware” of this claim, adding that “this is a subject that is not within the competence of TAP and that having been said in the negotiations with the Government, was at that time away.” The executive Recall has turned down several times this requirement, taking account of an opinion of the Advisory Council of the Attorney General’s Office and found to be illegal.

Fernando Pinto considers that “TAP strictly complied its part of the commitment “signed in December. And therefore, argues that the indictment of SPAC is “incomprehensible” because the union alleges “non-existent agreements, distorting or omitting proven facts and presenting imaginary amounts (…) that have not rational and reasonable basis.”

The company’s president took the opportunity to say that “in recent months labor instability had devastating effects on results and image” of TAP, which recorded losses of EUR 85.1 million in 2014 (of which 46 million related to the business of aviation).

“It would be disastrous for the credibility of TAP and would have serious consequences a return to operational instability,” writes manager, accusing the SPAC to “call into question all that was positive however achieved “and jeopardize” the trust relationship with the company’s customers. ” Something to Fernando Pinto, “calls into question the future of business and the guarantee of employment”

The president of TAP ends the letter with an appeal:. “I trust that these clarifications may contribute to prevailing common sense and a sense of responsibility. “

Only on Wednesday will be known the decision of the pilots, after a general meeting which is scheduled for 14h in Lisbon.