DON’T MESS WITH GROUND HANDLING JOBS!

July 5, 2012

ETF demonstrates for a social European Ground Handling Regulation

Today, 5 July 2012, more than 500 ground handling workers from across Europe demonstrate in front of the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg to raise their concerns on the proposed EU Regulation on Ground Handling services at the airports. The EP, the voice of the European citizens, will vote on this dossier later on this autumn. The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) organises this demonstration to make the MEPs aware of the need to include a strong social provision in the Ground Handling Regulation. During their action, the workers will meet with various MEPs from their respective countries.

“Social” and “Balance” must be the key words for a new Regulation on ground handling services: a fair balance between the objective to stabilise the market and the need for a more social European ground handling sector.

By organising the demonstration, the ETF aims to inform the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) about the importance of a binding social provision on transfer of staff, which guarantees the stability of jobs, the wages and the working conditions. In order to preserve the quality of services, further market opening has to be stopped.

“We know that the responsible MEP for this dossier, Mr Zasada, is planning to finalise soon his report in which he proposes a further opening of the ground handling market. The ETF is of the opinion that Mr Zasada’s proposals will only serve the airlines’ predatory greed and we fully oppose his vision on ground handling,” says Enrique Carmona, President of the ETF Civil Aviation Section.

François Ballestero, ETF Political Secretary adds: “The ETF requests an obligation to apply a representative collective agreement and a ban on subcontracting to prevent wage dumping and cut-throat competition. This demonstration is a big success and shows the importance of this issue for the workers. It can be considered as a first warning exercise”.

Ground handling workers will continue pressing for better quality jobs and social rights as the way to ensure that the best quality of services is given to the passengers.

For further information, please contact ETF Political Secretary for Civil Aviation, François Ballestero: tel: +32 474916979; f.ballestero@etf-europe.org

 

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