The dismissal of union president Mattias Åman Thiel and the written warning issued to union
president Roger Klokset mark a deeply concerning development in the relationship between SAS and
the elected representatives of its pilots.
The Nordic labour model is built on trust, respect for organised labour and strong, independent
employee representatives. Disagreements between management and employees must be
addressed through dialogue, negotiation and established legal processes; not through fear of
personal or professional consequences.
Elected union representatives are afforded special protection for a reason. Their role is to ask
difficult questions, to challenge management when necessary and to represent their colleagues
even when doing so is uncomfortable or contentious. No elected representative should ever have to
choose between fulfilling the mandate entrusted to them by their colleagues and protecting their
own career.
For pilots, this has an additional dimension. Aviation depends on a culture in which people speak up,
challenge decisions and report concerns without fear of retaliation. Management through fear has
no place in Scandinavian aviation.
The implications extend far beyond Mattias and Roger. They concern every pilot who today, or in the
future, considers taking on the responsibility of representing their colleagues, and every employee
who must be able to trust that speaking up is safe.
We stand united across Sweden, Denmark and Norway. We expect SAS to respect the Nordic labour
model, the right to independent trade union representation and the particular protection that must
accompany the role of an elected representative.
This is about the principles that will define SAS – now and for the future.
Tristan Okkonen
President, SweALPA
Christian von d’Ahé
President, DALPA
Synnøve Egeness Lilleli
President, Cockpit Association of Norway (NF)
