A team of ITF civil aviation representatives built stronger ties with Cuban workers as part of a solidarity mission to the country between 27 April and 2 May. The group included aviation worker representatives from Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Brazil, Spain and Venezuela. ITF civil aviation section secretary Gabriel Mocho and ITF Americas regional secretary Antonio […]
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 […]
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 […]
The International Transport Workers’ Federation is disturbed to hear that less than 48 hours after charges were dropped against two human rights’ defenders in Swaziland, fresh warrants have been issued for their arrests. Following a high court order, Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) lawyer Thulani Maseko and The Nation Magazine editor Bheki Makhubu were […]
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 […]
ITF affiliate the Swaziland Transport & Allied Workers’ Union (STAWU) has followed up a cost of living increase win from employers Swaziland Airlink with a double victory in its dispute with the country’s aviation authority.
At a press conference on Thursday STAWU announced that, after long months of bitter struggles, and with the help of international solidarity it has achieved its aims at the Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority (SWACAA).
According to the union, SWACAA has agreed to drop trumped up disciplinary charges it had brought against 19 union leaders and activitists. Criminal charges against five of the 19 now look likely to be dropped.
STAWU also reported that all SWACAA workers will receive a 5 per cent wage increase from this month. This comes on top of a previous 5 per cent increase the workers received in September 2013.
However, the union remains alert to the threat to the right to take legitimate trade union action posed by an application by SWACAA to classify a wide range of airport services as ‘essential services’. The authority has used the spurious justification that this is required in order to meet ICAO operational standards.
ITF civil aviation section Gabriel Mocho said: “STAWU has been going through an extended period of harassment. Despite the ongoing repression against the union, our affiliate has managed to force the government to improve conditions for workers. This is an important victory.”
Last month, an ITF mission visited Swaziland to investigate allegations of anti-trade union actions and to raise matters including the criminal charges against the 19 STAWU members with the country’s government.
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 […]
ITF acting general secretary Steve Cotton spoke up about a dispute between Thai Airways and the ITF-affiliated Thai Airways International Union (TGU) today after it emerged that the airline is seeking damages claims against union leadership. The claim follows a dispute from early 2013, when Thai Airways announced that there would be no basic pay […]