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Martinair pilots launch legal appeal to force KLM to save their jobs
A GROUP of 185 Martinair pilots have summoned KLM and its pilot union VNV to appear in court next week to force the Dutch airline to offer them jobs.
The pilots claim their positions were originally assured by former air cargo boss Eric Varwijk last September, according to De Telegraaf daily.
BarentsKrans law firm, acting for the pilots, will seek a declaratory ruling whether a transfer of undertaking had occurred between Martinair and KLM, and that now KLM had taken over Martinair's air cargo business.
If so, say lawyers, old employees automatically become new employees of the company that has taken over. If so, the pilots have more protection from dismissal.
Mr Varwijk had assured Martinair pilots whose roles were being phased out as the carrier reduced its fleet that the group would look for jobs for them at KLM or Transavia.
But De Telegraaf has since reported that KLM was hiring less experienced, cheaper pilots as Martinair pilots had become too expensive, and employing them would negate cost savings from trimming the fleet.
The pilots have also been hampered by weak union representation, the VNV, mostly comprising KLM pilots, failing to sufficiently support Martinair's staff because of concerns for their own pay and jobs.
The pilots claim their positions were originally assured by former air cargo boss Eric Varwijk last September, according to De Telegraaf daily.
BarentsKrans law firm, acting for the pilots, will seek a declaratory ruling whether a transfer of undertaking had occurred between Martinair and KLM, and that now KLM had taken over Martinair's air cargo business.
If so, say lawyers, old employees automatically become new employees of the company that has taken over. If so, the pilots have more protection from dismissal.
Mr Varwijk had assured Martinair pilots whose roles were being phased out as the carrier reduced its fleet that the group would look for jobs for them at KLM or Transavia.
But De Telegraaf has since reported that KLM was hiring less experienced, cheaper pilots as Martinair pilots had become too expensive, and employing them would negate cost savings from trimming the fleet.
The pilots have also been hampered by weak union representation, the VNV, mostly comprising KLM pilots, failing to sufficiently support Martinair's staff because of concerns for their own pay and jobs.
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