Wizz Air Pilots and Flight Attendants Plan Four-Hour Strike

Wizz Air's ongoing issues with unions continue as its Italian flight crews plan a four-hour strike in late May 2024. Pilots and flight attendants, represented by the Italian Transport Federation-Italian Confederation of Workers' Unions (FIT-CISL), are demanding better working conditions from the low-cost airline.

The strike, scheduled for May 28, 2024, will affect all flights departing Italy between 13:00 and 17:00 local time (UTC +2). According to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the strike involves crew members employed by Wizz Air Malta. The airline operates from 23 airports in Italy, with major hubs at Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, and Milan Bergamo.

The union has highlighted several key issues, including violations of occupational health and safety laws, gender equality, employee consultation, and maternity and paternity protections. Despite requesting an urgent meeting with Wizz Air on March 28, the union reported that the issues remain unresolved.

Diarmuid O’Conghaile, the managing director of Wizz Air Malta, addressed the strike in a message to employees, emphasizing the airline's growth and operational improvements. He acknowledged the right to join or not join a union but stressed that the airline believes in directly addressing employees' concerns.

O’Conghaile also noted that Wizz Air has been challenging the legality of the announced strike and cannot comment on ongoing legal matters. He urged employees to avoid participating in the strike for the sake of passengers and operational stability.

FIT-CISL is demanding a collective labor agreement to secure employees' rights and protections. The union has criticized the airline's ability to unilaterally change salary components without negotiation. Despite Wizz Air's financial success, with a net profit of €365.9 million in FY2024, the union claims that employee salaries have not kept pace with inflation.

Wizz Air's history with union disputes extends beyond Italy. In Romania, the airline was mandated by courts to rehire employees it had fired after they attempted to unionize. The airline's application for a permit in the US was rejected due to safety oversight concerns and allegations of anti-union practices.

Investor concerns about Wizz Air's treatment of employees, particularly regarding union rights, have also surfaced. Denmark's AkademikerPension divested from Wizz Air in 2022 after concluding that the airline repeatedly refused to recognize unions in several countries.

The planned strike reflects ongoing tensions between Wizz Air and its employees, with the union aiming to secure fairer, safer, and more dignified working conditions.