The second strike warning is a normal step after a first notice, which was issued by the pilots last week.
Despite a second notice having been issued, it is not certain that strike action will actually take place. This is because the pilots could still reach an agreement with SAS prior to the confirmed date of the planned strike.
Should it go ahead as scheduled, the strike will take effect simultaneously for pilots in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Pilots in the three Nordic countries have separate trade unions but the planned strike action is coordinated between them.
Danish pilots’ trade union, Dansk Pilotforening, last week issued the initial strike warning. The Danish union is part of SAS Pilot Group, which represents SAS pilots in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Pilots with the airline in Sweden and Norway also issued strike notices in line with the Danish announcement.
The collective bargaining agreement by which the pilots’ salary and working terms are determined expired in April. Pilots are currently working under the terms of the expired deal.
But the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement also means that the pilots are not bound by a commitment not to strike. They can therefore legally do so provided they give two weeks’ notice.
The creation of two SAS subsidiaries, SAS Connect and SAS Link, is reported to have generated an obstacle in negotiations over a new collective agreement.
READ ALSO: What is a Danish collective bargaining agreement?
Meetings between the various parties are ongoing this week under the auspices of the Swedish negotiating institution for collective bargaining agreements, Danish news wire Ritzau writes.
The dispute between the two sides comes as SAS leadership attempts to implement a recovery plan for the airline, which is mired in debt.
SAS wants to raise capital by selling shares and also has a cost-cutting plan in place.
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What are the rules if your flight is cancelled due to the strike? Do we get rebooked elsewhere – other airlines? Are we on our own? Anyone know? Thanks!