Simon Claridge welcomed Duncan Roberts into the Ara City Radio studio on Monday morning for the regular Delano’s Top of the Week slot.

As usual, the talk between the Delano journalist and Tom focused on the big upcoming news story of the week. Although the Italian election results loom large across Europe, a story closer to home was the subject of the day--the protest by unions and Luxair staff over pay and conditions and the aviation tripartite between airline management, trade union representatives and the ministries of transport and employment.

Unions say staff are overworked as the airline returns to something like a normal schedule after the covid pandemic. They feel employees are not being compensated with improved pay for the heavier workload. Indeed, a wage freeze at the airline introduced during the covid pandemic means many staff will be way behind on their expected salary scale.  

The furlough and early retirement schemes may have helped the airline weather the covid storm, but as passenger numbers and freight handling tonnage returns to something approaching pre-pandemic levels, Luxair staff are being overworked as the airline struggles to recruit new employees.

But other airlines face similar problems, Lufthansa pilots staged strikes throughout the summer and cabin crew in Italy from budget airlines Ryanair and Vueling will strike on 1 October.

As usual, the Delano team provided listeners with some “what’s on” tips for the coming week including the on 28 September, the starting 29 September, and the events happening for on 1 October

Duncan’s music pick for this week was Tim Burgess’s Here Comes The Weekend from his new album Typical Music.

Tune in again next week Monday around 8.30am on (87.8 - 102.9 -105.2 FM) or listen to the podcast on Delano,