Pilots refuse Air France's offer to end strike

Paris  :    Air France pilots voted Tuesday to turn down an offer from the management that sought to end an ongoing strike by offering a 2 per cent pay hike with a possible rise of up to 5 per cent within three years.

The strikes began in February in protest over what they considered a steady loss of purchasing power since 2011 due to inflation, while shareholders continued to make gains, reports Efe news.

Philippe Evain, spokesperson for the National Union of Airline Pilots (SNPL), said on French radio that the proposal was "unacceptable," adding "the strike not only remains in force but runs the risk of further action".

Evain questioned whether the offer could even compensate for past inflation increases.

On Monday evening, Air France's management published a statement calling for its latest proposal to be voted on by staff before Friday at noon. 

The initial workers' demand sought a 6 per cent salary hike to compensate for the loss of purchasing power due to inflation, but the unions lowered their expectations to 5.1 per cent. 

Air France was thus forced to cancel 30 percent of its scheduled flights, while further industrial action was planned. 

The company has guaranteed 55 per cent of its long-distance routes, 65 per cent of European routes arriving or departing from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and 80 per cent of its Paris-Orly domestic flights.