Google free translation service: Deutsch, Français, Español, Svenska, Italiano, Português - About these links

Single European Sky design cannot omit workers’ participation

24 January 2008

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) confirmed its support for the Single European Sky (SES) initiative, but stressed that policy makers should be ready to involve workers in every step of the design of a unified Air Traffic Management (ATM) system in Europe.

This was the core ETF message at the Conference Towards a More Performing European System in Europe, organized by the European Commission on 22 January in Brussels, soon after unions lashed out at the Commission for calling the SES a “success” in the High Level Group report that missed workers’ consultation.

Safety issues have become central to the future SES developments being air transport a “safety sensitive” industry. In this regard, the ETF raised serious concerns over the lack of safety  references in the report and, in particular, over the lack of attention to incident and accident reporting systems and the way they should be harmonized in Europe.

Over the past years, operational performance improvements and the reduction of ATM delays have been mainly achieved by the commitment of air traffic controllers, engineers, managers and support staff. That’s why a focus on performance is shared by the unions as far as it is guided by safety and efficiency goals, says the ETF.

The approach to consolidation is more resisted. “We regret that consolidation is laid down as a major objective ahead of safety and capacity issues without considering the consequences of de-fragmentation. The ETF does not accept the reduction to 10 Area Control Centres (ACC) out of the current 50”, stated ETF Joint Air Traffic Management Working Group (JATMWG) President Laurence King.

The ETF would also like to see ATM capacity expansion tackled along with airport capacity constraints, through which environmental issues should be duly considered.

Lawrence King concluded: “Human factors and involvement remain a fundamental part of the provision of air traffic services. Consequently, the competence of personnel is a priority, and the ETF is requesting the maintenance and improvement of training standards, with a licencing scheme for all the workers operating in the ATM safety chain”.

For further information, you may contact:
François Ballestero
ETF (European Transport Workers' Federation)
Political Secretary for Civil Aviation and Tourism
f.ballestero@etf-europe.org
Phone: +32 (2) 285 46 65
www.etf-europe.org

Related documents:

Press Release on SES 240108 (45kb PDF)

Back to current press releases