Staff Voluntary Release Agreement Signed Between RJ and the General Union for Air Transport

Royal Jordanian and the General Union for Air Transport and Tourism signed on Feb. 9, 2020 a collective agreement giving RJ staff the choice to obtain a voluntary release from the job between the period Feb. 9 and Feb. 29, 2020.

RJ President/CEO Stefan Pichler and the head of the General Union for Air Transport and Tourism Yousef Qannab signed the agreement.   

As per the agreement, employees have the option to submit a request to be released from service, and, subject to Royal Jordanian’s approval, the employees are given a sum of a half-month salary for each year of service.

Stefan Pichler said this agreement comes in line with the turnaround plan RJ has been implementing to achieve sustainable profitability and one of the main pillars of the plan requires that RJ reduce the manpower.

Pichler underlined RJ's and the union's continued keenness to ensure the progress of the national carrier and its role in serving Jordan, and achieving the airline’s strategic goals. He also expressed satisfaction with the success achieved by such contracts in the past few years, and the admiration from all parties, including the employees of the company.

Pichler expressed pride and gratitude to all staff members, their competence, expertise and their keenness to serve passengers on the ground and in the air, especially front-line staff who directly deal with travellers during flights and the positive role they play for the convenience and safety of customers. He said that the company, after a series of fruitful negotiations with the union, reached an agreement regarding the allowances for the crew flying hours.

In regards with some claims recently presented by a number of cabin crew members, Pichler emphasized that RJ is fully committed to applying the rules and regulations of the Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission and the various international institutions concerned with regulating the work of international airlines including the job of the cabin crew.

Head of the union Yousef Qannab stressed the keenness of the union to protect all employees’ rights, by ensuring that they receive compensation that supports them and their families after the end of their service.

Qannab also expressed the Union’s appreciation for the great effort employees in all departments have exerted to provide the best service to travelers, and for their hard work and professionalism.