Wizz Air warns of lawsuit after boycott – E24

Wizz Air has sent notifications of lawsuits against several Norwegian municipalities and counties, as well as against the state company Statnett. The company writes in a press release Monday morning.

“Wizz Air responds to the fact that local and regional elected bodies, and the state company Statnett, have adopted a boycott without evaluating the legality of the boycott and without any preparation of the case,” the airline writes, emphasizing that they were not contacted before decisions will be made. .

Wizz Air has sent the notice of claim to the Agder County Municipality, the Møre og Romsdal County Municipality, the Bergen Municipality, the Viken County Municipality, the Stord Municipality, the Oslo Municipality and Statnett.

– A decision on a boycott is something quite different from a free exchange of views. Such decisions are intended to create a chilling and deterrent effect on the public, and have a glaring anti-competitive effect, says Wizz Air CEO Marion Geoffroy in a comment.

Can close bases if employees organize

Wizz Air began domestic flights in Norway in October. Since the company announced its entry, there has been a debate surrounding the company and several players have called for a boycott. The debate has revolved especially around the attitudes of the company towards the unions.

The CEO, József Váradi, said in October that it was inappropriate to enter into collective agreements with unions if he was going to have employees in Norway:

– No, that’s not the plan. We are an airline without unions, said Váradi.

– We are proud of the culture of our company. We have an open and good dialogue internally in the company, including an employee council, he continued.

In an interview with VG last week, he qualified his earlier statement.

– First of all, I want to say that the creation of trade unions does not depend on me or anyone else in the company, it is a constitutional right of everyone in the countries where we operate. I will not interfere. No one should interfere.

In the same interview, however, the Wizz Air manager confirmed that they could end up closing or moving bases in Norway if employees unionize.

The defendant has the opportunity to turn around

The airline writes that they give the recipients of the lawsuit the opportunity to reverse the boycott, which is described as “illegal.” All players have been given a three-week response time, the company claims.

“Wizz Air’s position is based on Norwegian boycott legislation and the fact that Norway is bound to comply with the EEA agreement, which will guarantee the right of establishment in all member countries,” the airline writes.

Statnett tells E24 that his lawyers will now review the lawsuit “thoroughly,” but rejects the airline’s claim that he boycotted them in cash.

– We have only evaluated our ethical regulations, says communications director Henrik Glette.

Mayor of Oslo: – Important political signal

The municipality of Oslo states that it has received the letter dated December 21 with a notice of claim under the Litigation Act.

The mayor of Oslo, Marianne Borgen (SV), says that this is not an official boycott or a decision by the municipality. But the municipality itself wants to avoid Wizz Air and has encouraged people to do the same.

– It’s about using your power of consumption. Oslo is a large municipality and a large consumer who buys many goods and services. It is an important political signal that we are concerned about a serious working life, says Borgen by phone with E24.

Borgen notes that Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) has supported a boycott of Wizz Air.

– In that sense, do you have the support of the superior team?

– Yes.

Solberg: – Won’t fly

The debate over Wizz Air quickly reached the Storting, where Prime Minister Erna Solberg had to answer whether she wanted to fly with the company.

– I will not fly with a company that refuses to organize workers, Solberg said in question time at the Storting on October 14.

– In the same way that I have never flown with Ryanair. Because ten years ago I said that it was unacceptable for me to travel with airlines that do not have adequate and orderly working conditions for their employees, he continued.

E24 asked Wizz Air if they are considering submitting a notice of a lawsuit against the Norwegian state after Solberg said he supports the boycott of the airline, but has yet to receive an answer to this question.

On the way to the Norwegian plane

Finansbyråd Erlend Horn (V) in Bergen municipality addresses a Norwegian plane when he calls E24.

– We record that Bergen and several other municipalities are on the list of actors that Wizz Air has notified of lawsuits.

Horn says Wizz Air has the right to take things to court, and the court will clarify where the limits go for local room for maneuver.

– We believe that it is part of the local room for maneuver to ensure that our employees do not spend tax money on municipal employees who use companies that violate the fundamental ILO conventions, the principles of freedom of association and the fundamental values ​​of Norwegian tripartite cooperation .

County Mayor Arne Thommassen (H) in Agder County Municipality says they have not yet ruled on the case and refers to the response time.

– We have clearly stated that we recommend not to use the company and we want tripartite cooperation that works well in Norway and Scandinavia, says Thomassen in a comment on the phone with E24.

Møre og Romsdal and Viken have yet to comment.