Finnair fined over expenses dispute with pilots, cabin crew

The Labour Court held the national flag carrier Finnair responsible for breaching collective agreements in a dispute regarding daily expense allowances for the pilots and cabin crew and fined the company, reported national broadcaster Yle on Friday.

The court made the verdict following an allegation lodged last year by the unions representing pilots and cabin crew where the union accused the airline of violating the terms of the agreement by unilaterally making changes to working hours and per diem payments.

As per the changes brought by the company, daily expense allowances only to be paid when staff stayed overnight in the destination. The allowance was only paid, if the pilot or crew stayed overnight at a destination elsewhere in Europe, but not for overnight stays at domestic destinations.

Finnair pilots and cabin crew considered the changes as a breach of the collective agreements and challenged the company's interpretation.

The Finnish Air Line Pilots' Association and the AKT union filed a case with the Labour Court in this regard.

The court in its verdict said that Finnair had breached the terms of the collective agreement and fined the company.