TAP, Portugal's ailing national airline, is currently at a difficult stage between privatisation and continuing state intervention. Against this background, early 2001 saw the announcement of further restructuring measures, involving the loss of 700 jobs, while management and unions are in disagreement over a wage freeze.
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TAP, Portugal's ailing national airline, is currently at a difficult stage between privatisation and continuing state intervention. Against this background, early 2001 saw the announcement of further restructuring measures, involving the loss of 700 jobs, while management and unions are in disagreement over a wage freeze.
The Portuguese troubled national airline Transportes Aéreos Portugueses (TAP) has been in the headlines again in early 2001. Following a period of preparation for privatisation (PT9909165N), TAP is once again being subjected to direct intervention by the Portuguese government. The current moves are aimed at regaining markets by increasing the number of flights - especially to countries bordering the South Atlantic - reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing with the Swiss-owned airline, Swissair, in an effort to gain compensation for the losses caused when this company pulled out of a deal to buy a large stake in TAP. Maintaining TAP as a national airline continues to be defended in some quarters, although publicly the company management continues to support privatisation.
Against this background, in January 2001, TAP management and the 11 trade unions representing staff held a meeting to debate the future of the negotiations about the renewal of company collective agreement. In December 2000, management had decided to suspend the revision of the agreement and to freeze wages. The unions, however, consider that this pay freeze should not prevent the renewal of the wage agreement, in order to prevent inflation eroding the worker' purchasing power.
In mid-March 2001, TAP management announced a number of measures aimed at ensuring its survival, including a reduction in staff numbers. TAP has 8,900 employees, and now expects to shed 700 of them by the end of 2001. This follows a restructuring process launched in 2000 (PT0006196N). The new restructuring measures will mainly affect the administrative and operational departments. Some areas, such as ticket sales, will see increased computerisation, while marketing will be aimed at attracting a wider range of customers.
Some analysts have stated the view that the TAP restructuring plan will be viable only if there is a social and employment pact between the company and the trade unions, although currently such an agreement is far from becoming a reality.
Το Eurofound συνιστά την παραπομπή σε αυτή τη δημοσίευση με τον ακόλουθο τρόπο.
Eurofound (2001), TAP restructuring continues, article.
