Here you will find an ever expanding resource covering aviation issues that affect all categories of civil aviation workers including cabin crew, airline ground staff, pilots, airport workers and air traffic management staff. Be sure to return regularly or to register to receive updates as this area will be updated on a daily and weekly basis. Also, please email us at aviation@itf.org.uk if you have any links or material you would like to contribute here, or simply to offer us feedback. The ITF Civil Aviation section.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
Images of football stadium workers sleeping ten to a room in squalid rooms and their dangerous cooking facilities provoked a furious response from authorities in Qatar after they were published in an ITUC report, The Case Against Qatar. Refusing to take responsibility for the 1.4million workers in Qatar and abandoning people are hallmarks of a […]