One hour warning strike at Vnukovo Airline highlights the airline's ongoing problems

Published: 8/2/1999

It seems that the troubles of Vnukovo did not end with the exit of their General Director of one and a half months standing Vladislav Filev. On 30th July the airline's technical and ground services held a one-hour strike today, demanding that the company's management pay salary arrears. According to the trade union representative, Alexey Andreyev besides the issue of outstanding salaries over the last three months, the trade union is concerned with the condition of the airline's fleet, which he describes, according to reports in RIA-Novosti, as being practically "destroyed". The trade union also claims that the company has redirected $150 million intended for modernization to other purposes, although does not elaborate which purposes. Andreyev said that the union remains in negotiation with the company's management and the one-hour strike, held fully in accordance with the Federal Law and was a "warning". If the management does not try to resolve the outstanding problems, the strike will occur without a time limit. The First Deputy Director General of Vnukovo, Alexander Klimov said that the management considers the trade union claims on the salary arrears be " well grounded". Vnukovo has accumulated a payroll debt of 36m rubles over the last three months, and is eager to clear the debt. Answering the accusations of the use of the company's investment funds, Klimov said the modernization program has been completed at the end of 1998, and any questions regarding the program should be addressed to the investors. He also mentioned that the company's fleet of 18 aircraft (a figure that contrasts with the 57 aircraft claimed by the trade union) operates currently on the 60 regular routes in Russia, CIS and abroad that Vnukovo services. A dramatic fall in the Vnukovo fleet is not surprising given the airline's problems over the last few months although the scale is somewhat surprising and suggests that the failed Vnukovo/Sibir merger, which foundered last week, did so because the airline was in critical condition. For Vnukovo strikes are not new, although the last major strike did end with the assassination of one of the strike leaders.

Article ID: 724