Baggage handlers return to work

  • 2002-11-21
COPENHAGEN

Baggage handlers at Scandinavian carrier SAS agreed to return to work Nov. 18 after a strike over working conditions led to the cancellation of over 150 flights in just 24 hours, the company said.

Workers at Copenhagen's Kastrup airport dropped the industrial action after management agreed to enter negotiations with the Airport's 1,200 baggage handlers, company spokesman Troels Rasmussen said.

"We had to cancel 70 flights (Nov. 18), as well as around 85 flights (Nov. 17)," he explained, saying he expected air traffic to return to normal as the week progresses.

Thousands of passengers were left stranded as cancellations wreaked chaos on the airline's European routes although the airline managed to keep long-haul flights moving by asking airline staff to take over baggage handling duties.

A spokesman for the baggage handlers, protesting plans to extend their responsibilities to include tasks previously carried out by mechanics, said that workers also wanted their workload reduced.

"Each of our members is now in charge of 5 to 6 tons of baggage a day. We want that reduced to under four tons," said Kell Bistrup.

But Rasmussen denied the claim, saying: "Air traffic through Copenhagen has not increased, on the contrary, and no baggage handlers have been laid off," despite the airline hitting a turbulent financial period.

Scandinavian Airlines System is the largest company handling baggage at Kastrup airport.