Cabin crew associations in SAS Norway, NKF and SNK, go on strike

After two days of mediation by the National Mediator’s office, SAS has unfortunately not reached an agreement with the two Cabin Crew Associations in Norway, NKF and SNK, and they have chosen to strike as of this morning, August 23. It is SAS’ ambition to return to mediation so that we can reach a solution as soon as possible. The negotiations are part of a planned Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) renewal. 

Some 120 SAS employees went on strike initially and the number is expected to grow in the coming days when more staff members are scheduled to join the picket line, the two labour unions involved in the talks said. The Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions represented 640 cabin crew members at SAS Norway, while Parat, part of the Confederation of Vocational Unions, said it negotiated on behalf of a further 240, all of whom could eventually join the strike.

“Our priority right now is to minimize disruptions to our traffic program and support our customers with rebookings and information.” says the airline.

“While a limited number of flights are impacted by this strike and most flights will operate as planned, we advise passengers to check flysas.com for updates before making their way to the airport.  

We deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused and we are working very hard to resolve this situation quickly. 

We believe that it is possible to find a solution that is both attractive for our Norwegian cabin crew, and at the same time ensure the company’s competitiveness.   

Despite SAS, while under bankruptcy protection, having gone to great lengths to meet the cabin crew in terms of pay and working hours, we have not reached an agreement. It is also important to note that the Company is in the final stretches of its reconstruction process, and the effect of this strike has to be analyzed.”