Helena Soderpalm, Stine Jacobsen

COPENHAGEN, (Reuters) – Some 1,000 SAS pilots from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden may strike in protest against wage disputes and cost cutting measures at the troubled Nordic airline. The unions drew a harsh rebuke from SAS.

Henrik Thyregod, leader of the Danish Pilot Union said that they had been in negotiations for several months and could not agree on Thursday.

SAS has been helped tremendously by our efforts. We also offered huge savings. “But we cannot agree to any deteriorations or wage cuts of greater than 30 percent, as SAS requires,” he stated.

Management and unions have been working together since November. However, the collective agreement between SAS Pilot Group Union and the airline expired April 1.

If an agreement cannot be reached, Danish pilots may strike starting June 24, but they would wait to strike until June 29, when Swedish pilots are allowed to strike the earliest, according local regulations, Keld Baekkelund, chief negotiator for Denmark, told Reuters.

This news is good news for SAS which, in a desperate time, seeks to save the airline from bankruptcy by reducing costs, raising cash, and turning debt into equity.

SAS spokesperson stated that they believe that this strike is outrageous, shocking and a sign of a lack in understanding.

The spokesperson stated that “but just sending the signal and giving notice is very unfortunate.”

As part of wider trends in Europe and around the world, the company already has cancelled many flights before the summer rush.

SAS spokesperson stated that “this isn’t what our customers want, and it doesn’t what the company requires at this time.”

Norwegian Air, the Nordic rival, claimed it had reached a wage arrangement for 668 Norwegian Air Pilots that would last until October 2023.

SAS share price dropped 5.5% to an all-time low at 0.626 Swedish crowns in 1353 GMT.