Aviation workers fight against the destruction of jobs and wage cuts all around the world
April 16, 2018
Over the past few weeks, aviation workers around the globe have engaged in protracted and bitter strikes in an attempt to combat the destruction of jobs and conditions. Pilots, ground staff and cabin crews employed by some of the major carriers have been involved in these struggles. This outburst is an inevitable outcome of the on-going global restructuring process, which is relentless and long-standing. Strikes are a last resort for unions. However, sometimes aviation workers and their unions can’t find another way to oppose attempts to reduce them to a low-wage, casualised workforce.
Below you will find the latest news stories regarding workers’ opposition to the mounting attacks on wages, pensions and working conditions:
Air France workers hold firm on pay demands amid new strikes (washingtonpost.com)
Striking Air France pilots and cabin staff insisted they weren’t backing down, as their latest walkout forced the cancellation of some 30 percent of the airline’s flights worldwide Wednesday.
Union members protested at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, where screens showed “cancelled” notices next to multiple flights.
Staff want 6 percent pay raises, after seven years of salary freezes as the company went through restructuring to stem losses. The airline argues that such pay rises would threaten the turnaround effort.
Read the full news story here>>
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Aer Lingus threatened with industrial action over ‘breach’ of agreement (independent.ie)
Aer Lingus has been warned of industrial action by an emergency motion from the Fórsa trade union conference, over a “breach” of its collective agreement between workers and management.
The first-ever conference of the trade union’s services and enterprise division voiced its discontent with the airline for “unilaterally withdrawing” from an internal dispute-resolution mechanism and fire a warning shot to the airline over its decision to leave in what it says amounts to a “breach” of agreed collective bargaining practises.
Yesterday, in Galway, union delegates heard from Fórsa National Secretary Angela Kirk, who said the union “reserves the right to take whatever action we deem appropriate in order to ensure compliance with this collective agreement”.
Read the full news story here>>
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NAL workers’ pension: Aviation unions issue fresh ultimatum (punchng.com)
Aviation unions have issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay ex-workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways.
Our correspondent gathered on Friday that before the end of the first ultimatum given over three weeks ago, the Minister of State for Aviation,
Senator Hadi Sirika, had convened a stakeholders’ meeting with a promise that the issues would be resolved after the Easter break.
The General Secretary, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Aba Ocheme, told our correspondent that the unions issued another 14-day ultimatum on Thursday, having waited for more than one week for the government to act on the promise made.
Read the full news story here>>
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LATAM strike affects 126,000 passengers (santiagotimes.cl)
Some 126,000 passengers will be affected by the strike initiated by crew members of a subsidiary of the Latam Airlines, after negotiations with the workers’ union of the company that cancelled about 800 flights failed.
LATAM Airlines, one of the largest air transport groups in Latin America, did not reach an agreement on Thursday in a meeting with the striking union of its subsidiary LAN Express, which could force the company to adjust more flights.
According to the company, 800 flights were cancelled until April 18 and 126,000 passengers will be affected until that date by the strike. The group, with headquarters in Santiago, has operating units in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru.
Read the full news story here>>
Tags: Aer Lingus, Air France, dispute, industrial action, LATAM, NAL, solidarity