First steps agreed in bid for Gulf aviation basic rights

The session on anti-union Gulf states this morning heard from an ITF panel composed of Sarah Finke, Mahendra Sharma, Stuart Howard, and Gabriel Mocho. They covered the following points: Freedom of association in the Gulf States is a regional matter but also a global one. Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are global businesses that avoid […]


September 12, 2013

Basic labour rights in aviation

Aviation union leaders from Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya and Jordan discuss support for a basic labour rights for aviation workers in Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. The three airline giants are the fastest growing airlines in the world and between them employ more than 70,000 workers, pilots, cabin crew and ground staff, of […]


September 11, 2013

USA: Safety and health protections in the cabin become reality thanks to unions

On 22 August 2013, Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), made the following statement in support of the FAA’s final policy statement addressing flight attendant workplace safety in conjunction with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): “Today’s [22th of August’s] announcement by the FAA means that America’s flight attendants who […]


August 28, 2013

Ryanair loses in Norwegian court (NewsinEnglish.no)

Flight attendant Allesandra Cocca has claimed she was wrongly dismissed from her job while stationed at Ryanair’s Norwegian based at the Rygge Airport south of Moss. Cocca revealed details of what it’s like to work for Ryanair – how new employees start off in debt to the airline because they’ve had to pay for their […]


August 22, 2013

PALEA protest as arrested prosecutor returns to work

Members and supporters of the ITF affiliated Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) held a protest rally at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on 16 August 2013 as union leaders filed an administrative complaint against assistant prosecutor Diosdado Solidum, Jr. IPALEA’s complaint demanded the immediate suspension of Solidum. While the union welcomed the filing of separate […]


August 20, 2013

One air freight dispute settles whilst another cargo and passenger labour scenario worsens (handyshippingguide.com)

As one labour dispute at an air freight carrier seems to be heading for a resolution, another simply sees the relationship between a combined cargo and passenger carrier worsen. Our previous stories (1) (2) have outlined the problems besetting all cargo airline Cargolux and combination carrier Turkish Airlines (THY), but whilst the Luxembourg based outfit […]


July 29, 2013

ITF alleges law-breaking by Turkish Airlines and government

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and its affiliated union Hava-Is today presented further evidence to the International Labour Organization (ILO) alleging unlawful behaviour by Turkish Airlines (THY) and the Turkish government. The two organisations first lodged a complaint against Turkey with the ILO in March over THY’s unfair dismissal of 305 workers and the […]


July 26, 2013

Hava-Is members demand court order is acted on

Hava-Is members staged a protest on 23 July in front of Istanbul’s Caglayan Courthouse, to condemn the use of strike-breakers by Turkish Airlines (THY) management and inaction of the authorities despite a clear court verdict. They asked for an immediate implementation of the court ruling, and chanted slogans like: “Long live our THY strike,” “Stop […]


July 25, 2013