Air France CEO threatens to resign

The French airline Air France will consult employees of the company on its wage proposals, rejected by unions, to emerge from a conflict that is bogged down after nine days of strike, announced Friday its president Jean-Marc Janaillac.

The boss of the French airline conditioned his future at the head of Air France to the approval of this consultation by the employees.

« If the result is negative, I don’t see how I could stay at the head of Air France, » he said at a press conference. « My personal future is nothing compared to the immense stake that is the future of Air France. »

This consultation, which has no legal value, will take place by electronic vote from 26 April to early May.

Management proposed on 16 April a multi-year agreement committing to general salary increases of 7% over 4 years, in addition to individual increases. This offer, which will therefore be submitted to the employees, was rejected by the representative unions.

In a message to the employees, Mr Janaillac believes, in the face of a « conflict (which) divides us, weakens us and puts us in danger », that this draft agreement is « the only one capable of ensuring a future project for Air France ».

« I cannot accept the current mess even though a very large majority of employees are non-revisers, » he said in a statement.

After already nine days of strike for wages, and two to come next week, new dates are promised « early May » by the intersyndicale, which calls for « intensify » mobilization. The conflict cost more than 220 million euros, according to the company.