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More than a quarter of the employees of Widerøe’s ground services company, Widerøe Ground Handling, will be affected by mass layoffs. – There is no doubt that it is hard, says Jonny Simmenes in the Junit union.
LOSE YOUR JOB: Many employees of the ground service company Widerøe Ground Handling will be laid off.
UAS Norway (POOL), Anders Martinsen, NTB
Published:,
Figures E24 have been accessed to show that Widerøe Ground Handling has so far notified Nav of the layoffs of a total of 550 employees at seven different airports.
– We are in a great change. In accordance with the Work Environment Law, we are required to inform Nav about what is defined as a mass layoff. We have done it now. The process is not complete, CEO Marius Myhre tells E24.
The Work Environment Act defines a mass dismissal as the dismissal of “at least ten employees within 30 days”.
The company has around 1800 employees and performs services such as check-in, boarding, and baggage handling.
– Unfortunately, a large proportion of our employees are affected by this situation. It is a great challenge for those affected, but also for those who remain, says Myhre.
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Staff reduction at up to 12 airports
Widerøe Ground Handling was paid just under NOK 18 million in cash support from March to August, according to E24’s summary.
Two weeks ago, the government announced that it was expanding the tourism compensation scheme. Ground service companies are among those that can cover part of the corona effect losses.
The Widerøe director says they have reported a maximum number of how many may be affected in the reduction.
– At best, this will mean less than what we notify Nav in advance.
However, the ground services company has also started various processes at other airports. A total of 10 to 12 airports are at risk of downsizing.
– Together, there is a risk that, unfortunately, we will reach the total number to which you refer. That’s about 500 in total, he says.
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– Extremely resistant
The Junit union organizes around 250 of the company’s employees. Career advisor Jonny Simmenes says employees are having a hard time.
– It goes without saying that when in some places they have to reduce the number of employees by 50 percent and more than that, there are some who get layoffs and others get a much smaller fraction of work. There is no doubt that it is very hard, he tells E24.
Simmenes claims that they maintain an ongoing close dialogue with employees.
– Not more than a year ago the industry was optimistic, growing and everything seemed safe and good. Everything has been turned upside down in no time. These are demanding times, he says.
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Digitized services
Myhre claims that they aim to have the situation cleared up before the end of the year. Several of the announced layoffs take effect from December 1 and the rest from January 1 of next year.
At the end of October, it emerged that 130 of the 220 employees of Widerøe in Flesland in Bergen would lose their jobs, after the company lost a tender with SAS.
The company was able to expand the agreements in several airports, but not in Bergen, Tromsø and Kristiansand.
– In Bergen, we estimate layoffs of 170 employees, but as it stands now, it looks like 130 will be affected, says CEO Marius Myhre.
He states that the loss of the contract is one of the three reasons why they now have to lay off a large part of the staff.
In addition, several services have been digitized, thus reducing the need for resources.
– For example, delayed baggage self-assessment is now done through an app and not through staff who are physically present. In addition, it is the covid-19 that adapts correctly, he says.
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– No one saw it coming
Widerøe Ground Handling has employees at 41 airports in Norway.
– The volume challenges as a result of covid-19 and the lost contract are greater at the mentioned airports. At the other airports, the level of activity is more normal and there it seems that we can cope with the change with natural departures, says Myhre.
Today, around 500 employees of the company have been laid off.
– In our opinion, redundancy is a tool in a temporary situation. This will last longer than we initially thought, and is therefore unfortunately necessary with more permanent adjustments, says CEO Marius Myhre.
Myhre says the downsizing process started this fall and they are having ongoing talks with local and central shop stewards.
– None of us saw this coming in February. Unfortunately, we as a company don’t see any other solution, he adds.
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