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Croatia Airlines: We will lose 800 thousand euros daily due to the strike

The management of Croatia Airlines warns that the strike of the ORCA union announced for August 8 will cause losses of up to 800 thousand euros daily, and only on the first announced day of the strike will it disrupt the plans of nearly 7,000 passengers. The management of CA also states that meeting more than 150 union demands would represent an increase in salary and benefit costs of over 30 percent, or about 53 million kuna annually, equivalent to the payment of an additional two and a half monthly salaries per year.

“The total average net income (salary and per diems), for example in May, paid to captains of Croatia Airlines amounted to 40,157.00 kuna, while the highest in this category amounted to 58,717.00 kuna. Co-pilots were paid an average of 22,479.00 kuna, with a maximum of 36,872.00 kuna, and cabin crew (stewardesses and stewards) received 11,522.00 kuna on average, with a maximum of 19,157.00 kuna. Mechanics were simultaneously paid an average of 9,368.00 kuna, with a maximum of 17,476.00 kuna,” CA states, explaining that claims that salaries have not increased are unfounded, as they indicate that under the old collective agreement, due to built-in elements of salary growth by seniority, for example, only for stewardesses, salaries have already increased four times, the last time on July 1.

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The management also emphasizes that pilots already have a privileged working period, and that the same privilege is currently under consideration in the Ministry of Labor and Pension System for cabin crew.

Therefore, the management of Croatia Airlines once again calls on the unions and all employees to deeply reflect on the significance and consequences of a strike at this moment.

“The financial capabilities of the company to allocate almost 53 million kuna additionally annually, as the union demands, do not exist. The ORCA union, on two occasions, rejected offers for a 2.5% salary increase along with other benefits (Christmas bonus, vacation pay…) at the end of 2017 and mid-2018, and by rejecting these offers, unfortunately, all employees of Croatia Airlines have suffered financial losses.”

The timing of the strike is the worst possible as the summer months are precisely the months that allow Croatia Airlines to ensure regular operations throughout the year, and thus the salaries of all its employees.

“This entire situation is extremely negative for the company, and we apologize to all our passengers whose rights we must protect above all in these circumstances. We will regularly update all information for passengers on the company’s website www.croatiaairlines.hr, and for any questions, our Contact Center is available (072 500 505, +385 1 66 76 555).”