Although only postponed until 15th January (230 words)

Published: 12/8/2000

230 The threatened strike at Nizhny Novgorod Airlines planned for the 5th of December was narrowly averted by last minute talks between management and unions before the first flight of the day on the 5th. The management agreed to the give the staff a 40% wage rise going some way to closing the deferential between the airline's staff and those employed by airlines in Moscow, a major bone of contention for the unions. The strike is however, only postponed until the 15th of January, according to trade union chairman Sergey Zolotov, as the other demands of the flying staff remain unsettled. The impact of a strike on Nizhny Novgorod Airlines perilous finances is very particularly high compared with some other Russian airlines, given that it is still in bankruptcy and is entirely dependent on flights for revenue. Either operated under its own name on its two remaining routes to Moscow and St Petersburg using two of its aircraft or from one of the five aircraft wet leased to other airlines. The potential strike is also taking place against a background of an unsettled creditors agreement regarding the rescheduling of the airline's debts allowing the airline to be sold. This does however, not appear to deter the airline's 100 pilots and maintenance staff, from demanding that they should be working full time instead of the present short hours reflecting the airline's struggling business.

Article ID: 2239