Svensk Pilotförening has announced legal action following the immediate dismissal of SAS captain Mattias Åman Thiel by an external lawyer from Mannheimer Swartling, according to reports by Expressen. Thiel, who served the airline for 28 years and led the SAS section of the pilot union, was fired over disagreements regarding the execution of his union duties within established time limits, a claim the union rejects as a violation of organizational rights and a frontal assault on labor movements.
Union Response and Legal Challenge to the Dismissal
According to Svensk Pilotförening (SPF), the dismissal of Mattias Åman Thiel lacks any legitimate ground and directly breaches organizational rights. Tristan Okkonen, the leader of Svensk Pilotförening, stated to Expressen that Thiel acted entirely in line with standard procedures utilized for decades. The union maintains that SAS never approached them to demand renegotiations or new agreements regarding how union work should be conducted. Consequently, SPF is pursuing legal steps to have the termination declared null and void while demanding that Thiel’s employment status remain active throughout the legal proceedings.
Pilot Reactions and Industry Tension
The dismissal has triggered strong negative reactions among pilots across the carrier. According to Expressen, an anonymous SAS pilot characterized the management’s actions as aggressive, warning that the severe discontent among personnel could potentially result in traffic disruptions. This labor dispute unfolds merely months after Arbetsdomstolen, the Swedish Labour Court, ruled that SAS had breached its collective bargaining agreement. Furthermore, SPF claims that Norsk Pilotforbundet has faced similar pressures from the airline. The local SAS section within SPF currently represents 400 members.
Did You Know?
According to reports from Expressen, Mattias Åman Thiel has a tenure of 28 years as a pilot with SAS before his immediate termination by an external law firm.
Airline Position and Workplace Policies
SAS has declined to address individual personnel matters. Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji, communications chief at SAS, stated to Expressen that the company maintains a fundamental principle where identical labor law regulations, internal guidelines, requirements, and expectations apply to all colleagues without exceptions based on position or seniority. Kaoukji also emphasized to the newspaper that SAS firmly supports the Scandinavian labor market model alongside constructive cooperation with employees and their union representatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Captain Mattias Åman Thiel dismissed?
According to Expressen, SAS dismissed Thiel due to alleged failures in completing union duties within designated time frames, a claim strongly contested by Svensk Pilotförening.
What actions is Svensk Pilotförening taking?
According to Expressen, SPF has declared the firing illegal, announced impending legal action to invalidate the dismissal, and demanded that Thiel remain employed while the court processes the dispute.
How has SAS responded to the criticism?
According to Expressen, communications chief Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji stated that the company does not comment on individual cases, while asserting that identical workplace rules apply to all personnel regardless of seniority.
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