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TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE: – Establishing a union and a collective agreement are absolutely fundamental rights in Norwegian working life. Wizz Air shows complete disrespect for this, says Industry Energy union leader Frode Alfheim. Photo: Atle Espen Helgesen
– When Wizz Air closes the door on the union movement and a decent organized working life, we close the door on them again, says Industry Energy union leader Frode Alfheim.
– We are an airline without unions.
This was stated by the head of the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air, József Váradi, during a press conference on Wednesday.
Starting November 5, Wizz Air will establish a base in Oslo with flights to Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø.
Váradi’s statement triggers union leader Frode Alfheim at Industri Energi to react.
– It is totally unheard of in the Norwegian context. József Váradi wants Norwegian clients, but not Norwegian culture. Such dishonest actors are not welcome. Therefore, we introduced a travel policy according to which our employees will not fly these routes, he tells VG.
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Industry Energy is a union with 56,000 members in the onshore and offshore industry. Wizz Air’s flight paths will now be removed as an alternative in the association’s travel systems.
Alfheim now encourages other unions and “everyone who is interested in a serious working life” to do the same.
– We want to have the rest of LO in the team, he says.
LO will consider similar restrictions
Earlier this week, Bergen Mayor Marte Mjøs Petersen stated that she would not use Wizz Air if they did not want to operate with Norwegian pay and working conditions.
Oslo City Councilor Raymond Johansen also warned against using the Hungarian airline.
“Trade unions are the cornerstone of the Norwegian model of organized society and working life,” Johansen wrote on Facebook.
LO’s first deputy leader Peggy Hessen Følsvik tells VG that they will discuss whether to introduce the same travel restrictions as Industri Energi during a meeting next Monday.
Meanwhile, he asks people to think twice before choosing an airline.
– We do not want to support at all a company that has said that they should not have unions, says Følsvik.
CRITICAL: – LO appreciates the commitment around this company, both in its own unions, as well as, for example, the mayor of Bergen and the leader of the Oslo city council, says LO First Vice President Peggy Hessen Følsvik, to VG. Photo: Trond Isaksen
– You must show them your back.
The Wizz Air head was clear during Wednesday’s press conference that the airline will not exploit its employees and argued that there is a good dialogue within the company.
But collective agreements and unions are not something the Hungarian airline will deal with.
Alfheim believes that Váradi lacks a basic understanding of what a serious work life is.
– You may get away with it in other countries, but in Norway it is totally unacceptable.
– Establishing a union and a collective agreement are absolutely fundamental rights in Norwegian working life. Wizz Air shows a total lack of respect for this. So we have to turn our back on them, says Alfheim.
YOU MUST FLIGHT DOMESTIC IN NORWAY: Starting November 5, the Hungarian airline Wizz Air will establish a base in Oslo with flights to Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø. Photo: Patrick Pleul, DPA / ZB
However, the union leader is aware that he will not close the door to the company in the future.
– It is allowed to turn, also for Wizz Air. One of the great advantages of Norwegian working life is precisely that it is organized. Unions are an asset to employers. The day Wizz Air has understood, of course we will reconsider our position, he says.
Norway enthusiast
Since 2006, Wizz Air has operated routes from Europe to 11 Norwegian cities. They will now also fly their own domestic routes with ticket prices starting at 199 kr.
Wizz Air has been growing since 2003. They fly mainly in Europe, but they also have routes to the Middle East. Compared to many other airlines, the airline has done well during the corona pandemic.
AIRLINES WITHOUT UNIONS: The head of the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air József Váradi has received much criticism after his statement during Wednesday’s press conference. Photograph: Simon Dawson / X06555
In an email to VG, Wizz Air CEO József Váradi responds to the criticism.
– There is no airline in Europe with greater liquidity than Wizz Air. Wizz Air continues to uniquely take on new aircraft deliveries and will rebound from the crown situation before any other airline and be a structural winner.
– Others will shrink, fire people and may go bankrupt. Wizz Air will grow and create more jobs, writes Váradi and continues:
Union-influenced airlines are lagging behind, shedding jobs, and remain vulnerable to consumers. Wizz Air is agile, ready for more work and to continue innovating for the benefit of consumers.
The news that Wizz Air will now establish a base in Oslo is not the only one that has reached aviation this week.
On Tuesday, investor Erik G. Braathen revealed that he and several household names in the aviation industry will start a new airline in Norway in 2021.
