ITF demands safe airports for workers and passengers

The COVID-19 pandemic has exaggerated, not created the issues airport workers are facing today, such as the fragmentation of the industry, subcontracting and outsourcing of labour to precarious workers. As a result of this crisis, many workers have lost their livelihoods with no recompense for being laid-off, regardless of how long they have served the […]


May 19, 2020

ITF backs call for equality at Turkish Airlines

Aviation union Hava-Is is demanding that Turkish Airlines stops discriminating against certain groups of workers in its response to Covid-19. Earlier this year, as the Covid-19 pandemic began to spread westwards to Turkey, around 2,500 Turkish Airlines workers volunteered for unpaid leave to help the company maintain financial stability. Workers agreed to these exceptional arrangements […]


May 11, 2020

Successful union campaign stops furloughs at United Airlines – for now

The ITF-affiliated International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ (IAM) campaign has managed to stop United Airlines’ scheme intending to force 15,000 full-time IAM members into part-time positions. The carrier, however, has left the door open to resuming its forced reduction to the part-time program. The IAM’s campaign against United Airlines’ unilateral decision captivated the […]


May 8, 2020

United Airlines labor harmony starts to unravel as biggest union looks to sue over cutbacks (forbes.com)

By Ted Reed Five years of labor-management harmony at United Airlines (UAL) could be dissipating as the carrier’s largest union says it is moving towards a suit charging that management illegally plans to furlough workers on May 24 after accepting a CARES Act grant that forbids furloughs before Oct. 1. The International Association of Machinists, […]


May 5, 2020

New ILO publication: COVID-19 and civil aviation

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) recently issued a series of sectoral briefs assessing the impact of COVID-19 on several industries, including civil aviation. “COVID-19 and civil aviation” provide a preliminary assessment of the impact of the pandemic on global civil aviation as well as policy responses and measures taken by governments, employers and unions. Moreover, […]


April 15, 2020

Brave decisions will define the future of aviation

Aviation is fighting for its survival during the Covid-19 pandemic. It cannot win this fight on its own. We must make bold decisions today that will define the future of the industry and the lives of millions of passengers, aviation workers and our communities. Today, the ITF is making ten demands to both government and […]


April 3, 2020

ITF Aviation demands action to address the impact of COVID-19

Aviation is fighting for its survival during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. It cannot win this fight on its own. We must make bold decisions today that will define the future of the industry and the lives of millions of passengers and aviation workers. The aviation industry directly employs an estimated 10.2 million people worldwide. The […]


Covid-19: ITF global demands for governments and employers

Covid-19 is issuing the world an unprecedented collective challenge. Across the world – workers, employers and governments – must work together to minimise the damage done. Transport workers are the lifeblood of a global economy linking supply chains and keeping the world moving, and vital to successfully responding to the challenge of Covid-19. Today, more […]


March 23, 2020