IAG annuncia tagli per 4500 posti di lavoro in Iberia, quasi 1/4 del totale


Spagna: sindacati Iberia, scioperi

06 Febbraio 2013 16:04 ESTERI

(ANSA) - Madrid - I sindacati dei lavoratori di handling e del personale di bordo di Iberia (Icp) hanno confermato oggi la convocazione di 15 giorni di sciopero durante i mesi di febbraio e marzo, dopo il fallimento delle trattative coi vertici dell'aerolinea sul piano di ristrutturazione della compagnia. Gli scioperi, divisi in tre tranches, sono stati indetti dal 18 al 22 febbraio; dal 4 all'8 marzo; e dal 18 al 22 marzo Il sindacato maggioritario dei piloti, Sepla, finora non ha aderito allo sciopero.
 

Il metodo di Walsh e' di sicuro duro, ma il comunicato e' abbastanza inesatto. Le consultazioni ci sono state, ma le posizioni sono cosi' lontane, e la voglia di arrivare a un compromesso cosi' bassa, che sono fallite praticamente subito.

Da fonti abbastanza attendibili so che i primi colloqui Iberia/SEPLA sono andati avanti cosi':

Iberia/IAG: Proposta di tagliare 20% dei piloti, 30% delle paghe (numeri approssimati), riforma dei roster di modo che non esistano piu' piloti che volano 50 ore/mese e altri che ne fanno 700, stop a privilegi tipo chaffeur e il motociclista-corriere.

SEPLA: No. Mostrateci un piano di crescita che faccia diventare IB piu' grande in 3 anni.
E' una semplificazione, ma il muro contro muro e' quasi invalicabile.

Walsh sta seguendo la stessa tattica che ha usato con i cabin crew worldwide e i piloti di BA, ma la situazione e' diversa. I sindacalisti BASSA e Unite in BA sono persone che preferiscono parlare, almeno in alcuni ambiti professionali, e la situazione lavorativa in UK, e nell'aviazione in generale, nel 2007/8 era diversa da quella spagnola nel 2013. Un cabin crew BA licenziato nel 2007 aveva buone chances di trovare lavoro in tempi brevi, un customer service agent spagnolo, oggi, non ha alcuna possibilita'.
 
Il metodo di Walsh e' di sicuro duro, ma il comunicato e' abbastanza inesatto. Le consultazioni ci sono state, ma le posizioni sono cosi' lontane, e la voglia di arrivare a un compromesso cosi' bassa, che sono fallite praticamente subito.

Da fonti abbastanza attendibili so che i primi colloqui Iberia/SEPLA sono andati avanti cosi':

Iberia/IAG: Proposta di tagliare 20% dei piloti, 30% delle paghe (numeri approssimati), riforma dei roster di modo che non esistano piu' piloti che volano 50 ore/mese e altri che ne fanno 700, stop a privilegi tipo chaffeur e il motociclista-corriere.

SEPLA: No. Mostrateci un piano di crescita che faccia diventare IB piu' grande in 3 anni.
E' una semplificazione, ma il muro contro muro e' quasi invalicabile.

Walsh sta seguendo la stessa tattica che ha usato con i cabin crew worldwide e i piloti di BA, ma la situazione e' diversa. I sindacalisti BASSA e Unite in BA sono persone che preferiscono parlare, almeno in alcuni ambiti professionali, e la situazione lavorativa in UK, e nell'aviazione in generale, nel 2007/8 era diversa da quella spagnola nel 2013. Un cabin crew BA licenziato nel 2007 aveva buone chances di trovare lavoro in tempi brevi, un customer service agent spagnolo, oggi, non ha alcuna possibilita'.

Si, ma se va avanti così, Iberia chiude e quindi si troveranno tutti a cercar lavoro... forse non gli è ben chiara la situazione!
 
Eh, vaglielo a dire ai 2000 che dovrebbero perdere il lavoro! (gli altri 2500 sarebbero prepensionamenti).
 
Willie Walsh pare non si faccia intimidire e va avanti con i tagli:

IAG Starts Process to Cut Iberia Jobs Ahead of Union Strike


International Consolidated Airlines Group SA
said it initiated the possible elimination of 3,807 jobs at Iberia as it tries to restructure the unprofitable Spanish carrier. “Iberia has today informed its employees, trade unions and the Spanish employment ministry that it has started the formal process of collective redundancy,” London-based IAG said in a statement. A 30-day consultation process now starts, it said.

IAG Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh wants to shrink Iberia operations by 15 percent and is moving ahead with reductions after the rejection of proposals that would have limited job losses to 3,147. Iberia’s union has called for 15 days of strikes starting Feb. 18.
“The number is a bit higher than expected and shows Walsh will be as aggressive in restructuring Iberia as he has to be,” Robin Byde, London-based analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald said. “The strike will go forward, but so will the job cuts.”
IAG shares rose 0.3 percent to 216.80 pence at 2:50 p.m. in London trading.

Union Agreement


“This is part of Iberia’s transformation plan to introduce permanent structural changes across the airline to stem its losses, enabling it to grow profitably in the future,” IAG said today. The company was created in 2011 through a merger of British Airways and the Spanish carrier.

Iberia said it is “keen to reach an agreement with the unions.” The airline urged labor groups “to settle disputes at the bargaining table rather than involving customers through strikes that can only aggravate the airline’s loss-making situation,” it said in an e-mailed statement.

Employees let go would reduce redundancy packages that include 20 days of pay for each year of service capped at a maximum of a year’s salary, an Iberia spokeswoman said. She said the number of job losses could be reduced if unions agree on pay cuts and productivity increases.

Walsh said in November that job losses at the Madrid-based unit could reach 4,500 positions after third-quarter profit fell 25 percent. The final offer rejected by unions called for the elimination of 3,147 positions with wage concessions.
IAG is seeking a 600 million-euro ($806 million) turnaround in earnings by 2015 at Iberia, which lost 262 million euros in the first nine months of last year. IAG reports full-year results on Feb. 28.

Iberia said it is working on minimizing the impact of the strikes on passengers, including through ticket refunds and allowing changes in
travel dates.

bloomberg
 
Iberia pushes ahead with 3,807 redundancies

Iberia will cut 3,807 jobs after it failed to reach an agreement with its unions on a scaled back restructuring plan.

In November, Iberia detailed plans to cut 4,500 jobs—equivalent to nearly a quarter of the workforce—in a bid to stem heavy losses at the carrier. At the time it set a Jan. 31 deadline to reach an agreement with its unions, threatening deeper cuts and a more radical restructuring if the talks failed.

On Jan. 31 Iberia tabled a plan to cut 3,147 jobs through early retirements, with no redundancies. It also lightened ground staff wage cuts from 18% to 11% and flight crew salary cuts from 25-30% to 23%. However the unions rejected this offer, claiming it fell short of an agreement reached through arbitration on Dec. 17. The workers, represented by the CCOO, UGT, USO, ASETMA, CTA-Flight and SITCPLA as well as the SEPLA pilots union, immediately announced strike plans.

In the latest twist, Iberia said it has now started “the formal process of collective redundancy” covering 3,807 positions. It handed the documents to unions during a meeting at 1230CET on Wednesday, kicking off a 30-day consultancy period. The Spanish carrier claims that pay cuts, along with new productivity and mobility clauses, will keep the number of redundancies to a minimum.

An Iberia spokeswoman explained that under Spanish law the formal proposal must be limited to redundancies, however she indicated that this is still subject to negotiation. “Alongside the redundancies, Iberia is offering a social plan. If wage cuts and productivity gains can be agreed with the unions the number of redundancies can be reduced,” she told ATW. “Otherwise the redundancies will go ahead.”

Iberia will be required to pay staff 20 days per year of service, up to a limit of 12 months, if it goes ahead with the plan.

During the first nine months of 2012 Iberia posted a €262 million loss, growing its losses since 2008 to over €850 million. The company warns that it needs to take “drastic” cost-cutting measures and increase its yield to remain viable.

“Iberia is keen to reach an agreement with the unions and will attend the meetings with the union representatives with this intention, in spite of the call for intermittent strikes lasting a total of 15 days in February and March, that don’t contribute to constructive negotiations,” said Iberia, noting it has made contingency plans for the strike days.

http://atwonline.com/airline-finance-data/news/iberia-pushes-ahead-3807-redundancies-0212
 
Iberia implements contingency plan to assist customers during strike


  • The airline has relaxed fare conditions to facilitate changes and refunds for affected customers

  • It has also made arrangements with other airlines to carry Iberia customers as needed

  • List of cancelled flights on March strike days to be published shortly
Madrid, February 14, 2013

After receiving the governments decree specifying which flights must operate under "minimum services" rules during the planned intermittent strikes by airline employees, Iberia has published the list of flights cancelled in the 18-22 February period, which can be viewed here.

Under the decree, 90% of all scheduled long-haul flights will take place during the first strike period, along with 61% of all medium-haulinternational flights, and 46% of domestic flights. In coming days Iberia will publish the list of flights cancelled during the strikes planned for the 4-8 March and 18-22 March periods.

Iberia has implemented a contingency plan under which it relaxes the terms for changing travel dates or requesting refunds for tickets. It has also made arrangements with its partners in the oneworld alliance and another ten airlines to carry Iberia passengers as needed.

Affected customers who bought their tickets from the Iberia websitewww.iberia.com will be notified of the cancelled flight and given an alternative whenever possible. Customers may also contact Serviberia at 902 400500 or al 900 100 480 in Spain to change their flights or request refunds. Please click here for Iberia telephone numbers outside Spain.

Customers who booked tickets through travel agents should contact them to change their travel arrangements or ask for refunds.

Iberia will keep customers up to date with new developments on thewww.iberia.com site, on Facebook and Twitter, through Serviberia and other call centres around the world, and at Iberia desks at the more than 100 airports where it operates. The company also invites visitors to its website to sign up for “Iberia Conecta”, to receive real-time information about developments affecting their flights via SMS or email messages.

Iberia is grateful for its customers' understanding and for its employees' additional efforts during this period to assist affected passengers and to offer solutions.

http://grupo.iberia.es/portal/site/grupoiberia/menuitem.0ffaf48bc2c1f79bf75771fbf34e51ca/?ib_contentId=445cac73d08dc310VgnVCM20000060fe15acRCRD



 
Iberia cancels 400 flights during first strike wave

Spanish flag carrier Iberia has canceled 39% of its scheduled flights over the period Feb. 18-22, as it braces for the first wave of staff walkouts in protest against its restructuring.

Detailing its contingency plans, Iberia said it will cancel 415 of its 1,062 flights during the four-day stoppage. The canceled flights comprise 206 domestic sectors (53% of the normal schedule), 190 medium-haul services (39% of normal services) and 19 long-haul flights (10% of normal services).

“In the case of the long-haul flights, less than four flights a day canceled out of almost 40. There are no flights canceled to the US and only a few flights to Latin American destinations,” an Iberia spokesman told ATW.

However, the loss-making Spanish carrier will continue to operate the remainder of its 600 daily flights in line with a Spanish government decree dictating minimum service levels. “Under the decree, 90% of all scheduled long-haul flights will take place during the first strike period, along with 61% of all medium-haul international flights, and 46% of domestic flights,” Iberia said in a statement.

It has also relaxed its ticketing rules and made arrangements with its oneworld partners and “another 10 airlines” to carry passengers where needed.

Contingency plans for strikes on March 4-8 and March 18-22 will be released over the coming days.

http://atwonline.com/aircraft-engin...els-400-flights-during-first-strike-wave-0214
 
IAG’s €997m loss last year compared with a pre-tax profit of €503m in 2011.

The company said its operating loss of €23m before exceptional items for 2012 was better than previous guidance.

IAG added that, subject to the outcome of negotiations on the Iberia turnround plan, it expected to record a better operating profit before one-offs in 2013 than the €485m reported in 2011. In early London trading, IAG’s shares were up 6 per cent at 235p.

Revenue rose 10.9 per cent to €18.1bn in 2012, partly due to IAG’s joint venture with American Airlines on transatlantic routes.

British Airways reported an operating profit of €295m in 2012, down from €592m in 2011. Iberia’s operating loss widened from €61m in 2011 to €896m last year, including the impairment charge.

The €343m charge at Iberia involves writing down all €249m of goodwill associated with the acquisition of the Spanish airline by British Airways in 2011. The charge also covers Iberia’s brand and other intangible assets.

Iberia is proposing to cut 3,800 jobs under a new turnround plan outlined this month after failing to reach agreement with unions on an earlier proposal that involved reducing the workforce by 4,500, or 22 per cent.

The new plan also includes a 15 per cent cut in capacity, and unions promised 15 days of strikes in response.

As well as being hit by the Spanish recession, Iberia is struggling to compete with low-cost carriers led by Ryanair and new Latin American rivals such as Latam Airline Group.

IAG’s results statement highlighted the risks associated with the Iberia turnround plan, saying: “Execution risks are high and include delayed implementation, widespread labour conflict, operational disruption, political interference, legal risk around testing new labour reforms and a lack of employee focus.”

IAG’s other exceptional items in 2012 included a €87m restructuring charge at BMI British Midland, the airline bought last year from Lufthansa. The deal gives British Airways a stronger presence at London’s Heathrow airport.

Pension charges of €266m also contributed to IAG’s €997m pre-tax loss. Net debt stood at €1.9bn at December 31, compared with €1.2bn in the previous year, because of IAG’s weaker operating performance and increased capital expenditure on new aircraft.

Andrew Light, an analyst at Citi, said: “As expected, the poor performance of Iberia undermined the good performance of British Airways.”

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2013
 
Un momento, cerchiamo di fare un attimo di chiarezza. Questo è quanto dicono i contafagioli di IAG:

IAG period highlights on combined results:
Operating loss for the year to December 31, 2012 of €23 million before exceptional items (2011: operating profit €485 million). After exceptional items operating loss for the year not including Iberia restructuring and impairment was €68 million, compared to our guidance in November of €120 million
• Before exceptional items, British Airways made an operating profit of €347 million in the year to December 31, 2012 and Iberia made an operating loss of €351 million
• Non-operating charges for the year were €384 million, including €266 million related to non-cash pensions accounting requirements
• Loss before tax for the year of €997 million (2011: profit before tax of €503 million), including restructuring charge of €202 million for the Iberia transformation plan and €343 million impairment of Iberia intangible assets
• Revenue for the year up 10.9 per cent to €18,117 million (2011: €16,339 million), including €872 million or 5.4 per cent currency impact. Passenger unit revenue for the year up 9.4 per cent, on top of volume increases of 2.8 per cent
• Fuel costs up 20.4 per cent to €6,101 million (2011: €5,068 million before exceptional items). Fuel unit costs up 16.8 per cent, or 8.4 per cent at constant currency
• Non-fuel costs before exceptional items, up 11.6 per cent at €12,039 million, including €543 million of adverse currency translation. Non-fuel unit costs up 8.5 per cent, or 3.8 per cent at constant currency
• Capital investment of €1,239 million (2011: €1,071 million) including over €400 million on pre-delivery payments for future aircraft • Cash of €2,909 million at December 31, 2012 was down €826 million on 2011 year end (December 2011: €3,735 million). Group
net debt up €741 million to €1,889 million (December 2011: €1,148 million)

Financial statement disponibile al link: http://www.iairgroup.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=240949&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1790315&highlight=

Senza contare gli exceptional items IAG perde 23m€ e Iberia 350. Contando la prima tranche della ristrutturazione di IB (chiusura basi, vendita assets e riduzione flotta), si assommano altri 202 m€. Poi c'è, anzi soprattutto, quell'"impairment of intangible assets" di Iberia. Non sono un esperto di finance, Dio me ne scampi, ma so che si fa un "impairment" quando il valore "reale", di mercato, di un asset è minore di quello scritto sui propri libri contabili. Bisogna prenderne atto, e cancellarlo, scrivendo una perdita.

Nel caso di Iberia gli assets sono intangibili, per cui oserei dire che si tratta di goodwill, valore della marca, forse anche la fidelizzazione. In soldoni, al tempo della creazione di IAG, Iberia è stata valutata "X", sommando i suoi asset tangibili, la sua capitalizzazione e le sure riserve, più gli asset intangibili. Sorpresina sorpresona, gli asset intangibili non sono così "cari".
 
Un momento, cerchiamo di fare un attimo di chiarezza. Questo è quanto dicono i contafagioli di IAG:



Financial statement disponibile al link: http://www.iairgroup.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=240949&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1790315&highlight=

Senza contare gli exceptional items IAG perde 23m€ e Iberia 350. Contando la prima tranche della ristrutturazione di IB (chiusura basi, vendita assets e riduzione flotta), si assommano altri 202 m€. Poi c'è, anzi soprattutto, quell'"impairment of intangible assets" di Iberia. Non sono un esperto di finance, Dio me ne scampi, ma so che si fa un "impairment" quando il valore "reale", di mercato, di un asset è minore di quello scritto sui propri libri contabili. Bisogna prenderne atto, e cancellarlo, scrivendo una perdita.

Nel caso di Iberia gli assets sono intangibili, per cui oserei dire che si tratta di goodwill, valore della marca, forse anche la fidelizzazione. In soldoni, al tempo della creazione di IAG, Iberia è stata valutata "X", sommando i suoi asset tangibili, la sua capitalizzazione e le sure riserve, più gli asset intangibili. Sorpresina sorpresona, gli asset intangibili non sono così "cari".
Esatto: il goodwill (in italiano avviamento) è la differenza fra quanto pagato per un'azienda e la somma del valore netto dei beni che la compongono. L'avviamento comprende non solo il marchio, ma anche la clientela e le professionalità di chi lavora in azienda.
 
Sostanzialmente Iberia é stata valutata piú del suo valore pur di concludere l'accordo di fusione.