Brussels Airlines strike threat after staff dismissed for raising hygiene concerns

After three flight attendants were dismissed because they refused to board a Brussels Airlines flight to Ghana, citing health risks, unions and staff are planning to strike.

The health concerns reportedly related to the possible presence of bedbugs on the plane.

Before the flight to Accra took off, a flight attendant and the cleaning crew spotted signs that could indicate the presence of parasites on some passenger seats. An inspection procedure was then initiated.

Joëlle Neeb, spokesperson for the airline, claims that it was a false alarm.

“A team came to check everything thoroughly, and there was absolutely nothing on board,” Neeb said.

But three flight attendants invoked the international "unfit to fly" rule, which allows a crew member to declare themselves unable to work on-board.

This rule is recognised in aviation to ensure safety on board, said Olivier Van Camp, permanent secretary of the SETCa union.

“There may be a physical or mental problem,” explained Van Camp. “This rule serves to ensure that everyone on board is 100% operational.”

Brussels Airlines management, however, considers this refusal to be a breach of internal rules and the three flight attendants were therefore dismissed in a decision that unions are calling unfair and brutal.

“They are very disappointed, naturally,” Van Camp said. “They’re in tears at home. They are single mothers with children and more than 30 years of service. They’re in their fifties.”

The case has also been brought before the courts by the flight attendants concerned.

A rally was held in the bus park at Brussels Airport on Saturday morning, bringing together staff and trade unionists demanding the reinstatement of the three flight attendants and denouncing the growing pressure on the right to declare oneself unfit to fly.

The unions’ demands were not met or even responded to by management and so they have filed a notice to strike.