Who is the world’s worst boss?

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is running a competition to find the worst boss in the world – and there’s a familiar face in their hall of shame: Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways. He’s the man responsible for the culture of fear at the airline, the one staff there say they’re most […]


April 30, 2014

ITF demands investigation into Norwegian airline

ITF unions have vowed to protect working conditions for aviation workers at Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS). Norway’s ITF-affiliated Parat union has long campaigned against NAS working practices. The airline has a track record of seeking to avoid Nordic working regulations by outsourcing various parts of its operations. In February, NAS obtained a license to operate […]


April 17, 2014

Swazi union leader finally free

Basil Thwala, legal advisor to the Swaziland Transport & Allied Workers’ Union (STAWU), was released from prison this weekend. ITF affiliate STAWU has been fighting to free Thwala since 2012, when he was arrested and charged on a picket line protest. Swaziland is one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarchies, and has a record […]


April 15, 2014

ITF signs memorandum of understanding with ACFTU

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the ACFTU, the All China Federation of Trade Unions, that commits both organisations to a process of dialogue and information sharing. The MOU was signed in Beijing by ITF acting general secretary Steve Cotton and ACFTU vice-president Jiang Guangping, who is […]


April 14, 2014

EU probes airlines with large foreign stakeholders (ft.com)

The European Commission has launched an inquiry into stakes held by foreign  investors in four European airlines, warning that EU rules prohibit foreign  companies from exercising “effective control” of airlines registered in the  28-member bloc. The EU probe targets four airlines with sizeable foreign  stakeholders, including German low-cost carrier Air Berlin, and comes days after […]


April 8, 2014

Cabin crew vow to support Qantas comrades

Representatives of ITF-affiliated cabin crew unions meeting in London today pledged their support for their Qantas colleagues, who are facing unparalleled job cuts.They acted in response to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce’s plans to sack 5,000 staff, resolving to extend solidarity support and to carry the message back to their unions that the cuts must be […]


April 5, 2014

Freight handlers strike for better conditions

Some 200 freight handlers at Schiphol airport, the Netherlands, went on strike this week over deteriorating working conditions. Workers at Aviapartner Cargo (APC) are facing longer hours and have little control over their schedule. Workers say they can end up having just one day’s rest per week, between a day and a night shift. Workers […]


March 25, 2014

Airline imposes curfew on employees (folha.uol.com.br)

The job announcement entices: the possibility to dine in Paris, lunch in New York and have breakfast in Montreal. A tax-free salary, housing and transportation paid – and the chance to live in the Middle East as a flight attendant for one of the most prestigious airlines in the world, Qatar Airways. It’s all true, […]


March 18, 2014