Unions split over airBaltic layoffs: one cites pressure, another sees no threats

The planned collective dismissal of several hundred employees at airBaltic, Latvia's national airline, is being viewed differently by the unions representing its staff. The layoffs are tied to the carrier's new business plan. The differing views were voiced on the Delfi programme "Spried ar Delfi", which hosted both employee representatives and company management.

Dace Kavasa, chair of the board of the Latvian Aviation Trade Union, said the company keeps up constant pressure. "This pressure, pressure, pressure is going on all the time," she said, referring to the airBaltic administration's efforts to push the layoff-related processes forward rapidly.

The company's explanation

Jekaterina Leidmane, airBaltic's vice president for personnel management, disagreed that pressure is being put on employees. She explained that the situation requires decisions to be made quickly and without hesitation, while each decision is still assessed very carefully.

A different view

Aušra Straume, chair of the Latvian Federation of Aviation Trade Unions, said she sees no threats or ultimatums from the company in the process. According to her, communication and consultations have taken place throughout.

Thus two aviation-sector union bodies and the company's representative assess the course of the layoff process differently. The source does not give the exact number of employees to be dismissed or the timeline for the layoffs.