Austrian Airlines to concentrate on 'negotiated agreement' with staff following ECJ ruling

Austrian Airlines stated (11-Sep-2014) it is concentrating "on reaching a negotiated agreement" with staff over their collective wage agreement, following the European Court of Justice's (ECJ) 11-Sep-2014 ruling rejecting the carrier's cancellation of a previous collective agreement and transfer of staff to Tyrolean Airways. The carrier's executive board will present alternative scenarios to the supervisory board in early Oct-2014, should negotiations fail to reach an agreement. Austrian Airlines CEO Jaan Albrecht said: "We acknowledge this court decision and respect it. However, in connection with the special competitive situation in Austria, it additionally burdens our economic standing. This is because we compete with airlines at the Vienna hub which operate on the basis of more favourable concepts, for example temporary staffing models and generally without a collective wage agreement. Ultimately, the judgement handed down in Luxembourg makes it difficult for us to defend our position as a quality airline against the competition. However, we will fight with all the energy at our disposal and with conviction to safeguard our jobs and for a strong airline at the Vienna location." Tyrolean Airways MD Klaus Froese added: "Today I presented a positive assessment to the Austrian Airlines Supervisory Board concerning the status of negotiations on the collective wage agreement and asked the board for more time. The difficult economic situation and the decision announced today by the ECJ have strengthened our commitment to trying to work out an amicable agreement at the negotiating table." [more - original PR - English/German]