Southwest, NetJet Pilots Demonstrate Outside The White House

Pilots from Southwest Airlines and NetJets demonstrated outside the White House last week in opposition of the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) tentative approval to grant Norwegian Air International (NAI) a foreign air carrier permit. The pilots at Southwest, like many others, believe the DOT's decision sets a dangerous precedent in aviation and demonstrates the administration's unwillingness to enforce trade agreements and ensure a level playing field for American workers.

"Southwest pilots are proud to stand with our peers and oppose this dangerous decision," said Captain Jon Weaks, SWAPA President. "If not reversed, Norwegian Air International will possess an unparalleled advantage over U.S. carriers and that is a direct threat to the thousands of aviation workers who operate and support the nation's international flights."

Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS), NAI's parent company, currently flies to the U.S. using Norwegian crews, operating under Norway's labor and social laws. NAS could expand its current operation to meet its growth plans but instead chooses to evade Norwegian labor and social laws and establish an Irish-based subsidiary. This scheme is in direct violation of article 17 of the U.S.-EU Open Skies agreement.

SWAPA urges the DOT to reverse its tentative decision and preserve a fair and level playing field for U.S. workers by denying NAI a Foreign Carrier Permit.

NJASAP Vice President Capt. Paulette Gilbert spoke to that very point during her remarks to the picketers. "The Obama Administration has lamented the continued erosion of good-paying middle class jobs and concentration of wealth to the elite few," she said. "Regrettably, the DOT's decision to approve NAI will only exacerbate that very problem."

"What makes NAI's move especially egregious is during a teleconference held prior to the informational picket, Norwegian representatives did not deny its scheme violates Section 17 bis of the U.S.-European Union Open Skies Agreement – a section specifically intended to keep corporations from forum shopping for cheaper labor," George said. "Their argument is the violation, in and of itself, is not sufficient grounds for the DOT to deny its application."

The seeming contempt for international law and the elimination of U.S.-based carriers' ability to compete on equal footing in the international marketplace aside, the NAI scheme is viewed as having very serious safety implications for the National Airspace System. "NAI has made clear its intent to use flight crews employed via Asian contracts, and that begs very relevant questions specific to safety oversight," George said. "Many professional pilots begin their careers working as contract pilots, and there is little question that the pressure to perform in this environment is unrelenting." He added, "At this time, we are aware of no mechanism that ensures NAI's contracted pilots will have the direct link to management that allows them to express and resolve safety concerns, which is tremendously problematic."

(Source: SWAPA, NJASAP news releases)

FMI: www.njasap.com, www.swapa.org