Union accepts Alitalia plans but others continue to oppose restructuring

A major union that represents Alitalia workers has come to the realization that it has little choice but to accept a deal aimed at turning the national airline’s successful operations over to private investors and one that will see thousands of job cuts and route cancellations. The Cisl union, which is among the most powerful representing Alitalia employees, stated that it would sign onto the plan, but that in return it expected the flag carrier’s executives to provide workers with guarantees that the airline would not sold to foreign interests, such as Air France-KLM.

Raffaele Bonanni, leader of the Cisl union, seems to understand that failure to accept the plan would lead to the complete collapse of the insolvent Italian airline. As such, the union is ready for compromise and would accept the plan, as long as the union in represented on the resurrected Alitalia’s board. Additonal requests include the requirement that Alitalia’s new owners commit to keeping their share in the carrier for a period of five years and agree not to sell it to a rival airline.

Despite the fact that Cisl accepted the terms of Alitalia’s privatization, there is no guarantee at all that other unions are also onboard. But in any case, unions representing pilots and flight attendants will have to come to a decision no later than this Thursday and all labour unions must vote in favour of the sale and restructuring plan for it to go through.

Thank you to The Guardian and Reuters for the initial report.

www.alitalia.com