Senate passes pilot amendment

Vote raises voluntary retirement age, ignoring a four-day strike by Air France pilots.

Published Modified

SENATORS have passed a bill to raise the voluntary retirement age of pilots to 65 – despite a four day strike.

Pilots with Air France caused massive disruption during four days of industrial action estimated to have cost the company €100million.

They were protesting against government plans to raise the voluntary retirement age from 60 to 65 years-old.

If brought into law the new rule, which also applies to cabin staff, will come into effect from 2010.

Pilots union SNPL said changing the retirement age was dangerous for safety and also jeopardised the future of younger pilots who would struggle to find work.

Senators included an amendment which guarantees the right of pilots to retire at 60 and to ensure they can retire at any time between the age of 60 to 65.

The Senate will today continue to examine the Projet de Loi de Financement de la Sécurité Sociale including a law to raise the general voluntary retirement age to 70.

Photo: Philippe Noret - AirTeamimages

archive

archive