Mišetić: Croatia Airlines will seek a court injunction against the flight attendants’ strike

The CEO of the airline company Croatia Airlines, Ivan Mišetić, announced today that the Management will seek a court injunction against the strike announced by the Flight Attendants Union from July 9 to 13, as they believe the strike is illegal.

“We will use all legally prescribed means to protect the interests of the company, including seeking compensation for damages,” said Mišetić at a press conference where he reiterated that a four-day strike by flight attendants would cause Croatia Airlines a loss of at least one million dollars per day. “Damage has already been done by the mere announcement of the strike as passengers have started to cancel flights on those days, and since the strike is announced in the middle of the tourist season, Croatian tourism and the economy in general will also suffer damage,” warned Mišetić. The Croatian airline expects that despite the strike on those days, it will still achieve 40 percent of planned flights, aided by aircraft and staff rented from other companies. Mišetić did not want to disclose which companies, noting that they are negotiating with those “available on the market,” while taking all measures to protect the interests of passengers.

Accepting the demands of the Flight Attendants Union would increase operating costs and reduce the number of working days for employees, which would further undermine the competitiveness of Croatia Airlines, claims the Management. Approximately 20 million kuna is allocated monthly for employee salaries in the company, and the total earnings of flight attendants in May, including per diems and all allowances, ranged between 5,100 kuna and 12,200 kuna. Mišetić admitted that the Management, after the announcement of the strike, postponed the payment of salaries which is usually done on the 7th or 8th of the month, but claims that this is not pressure on the flight attendants but a necessary move to refund costs to passengers who will not be able to fly due to the strike. “We will pay salaries within the legal deadline by the 15th of the month,” he said. The door for further negotiations is not closed, Mišetić stated, inviting the Flight Attendants Union, as well as the Croatian Union of Air Traffic Pilots, to join other unions in Croatia Airlines and sign a Unified Collective Agreement for the company. (H)