International Transport Workers' Federation: Press releases

El Sindicato Global ITF (Federación Internacional de los Trabajadores del Transporte) emitió hoy una urgente convocatoria para que todas las organizaciones involucradas en la aviación civil se unan para encontrar respuestas a la crisis en la industria y crear un futuro sostenible. La decisión se produjo después de que la Asociación Internacional del Transporte Aéreo (IATA) diera a conocer cifras que muestran la peor caída en el tráfico aéreo de pasajeros desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

La ITF, que representa a 635.000 trabajadores y trabajadoras de la aviación entre sus miembros de 751 sindicatos en todo el mundo y 4,6 millones de trabajadores, hizo el llamamiento a los empleadores, gobiernos y organismos internacionales como la OACI (Organización de Aviación Civil Internacional), la IATA y la OIT (Organización Internacional del Trabajo), a quienes escribió hoy para pedir su apoyo para iniciar un diálogo entre partes interesadas.

Dirigiéndose a los jefes de esas organizaciones, el Secretario de la Aviación Civil de la ITF, Gabriel Mocho explicó: "El objetivo de este diálogo sería el de desarrollar una respuesta socialmente aceptable a la actual crisis económica y una estrategia para promover un crecimiento sostenible, la estabilidad y normas decentes en nuestra industria, que se caracteriza actualmente por la volatilidad. La crisis ha demostrado muy claramente cuan dañina esta volatilidad puede ser, no sólo para los trabajadores y trabajadoras, sino también a las empresas y las finanzas públicas.

"La ITF y sus sindicatos también creen que es el momento para que los actores clave demuestren su liderazgo y previsión, y abandonen la mentalidad predominante de corto plazo a fin de construir un futuro económico, social y ambientalmente sostenible para la industria."

Y concluyó: "Espero que siendo las instituciones internacionales clave en la industria de la aviación, la OACI, la IATA y la OIT estarán de acuerdo en participar en ese diálogo y demostrarán su disposición a colaborar con las inquietudes de los trabajadores y trabajadoras para hacer frente a un desasosiego que es cada vez mayor".

Las convocatorias fueron acompañadas de una copia de la declaración acordada por los representantes de los sindicatos de la aviación de la ITF miembros (véase más abajo en Inglés).

The Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on Aviation Workers

ITF aviation affiliates believe that the human cost of the global economic crisis on aviation workers who continue to suffer job losses, reductions in income and a deterioration of their working conditions, is unacceptable. This includes a growing threat to their health and safety both on the ground and in the air, in particular due to the enormous pressure put on them to reduce turnaround times, which is exacerbating the already serious problem of fatigue and stress among all categories of aviation workers[1].

Aviation workers are not responsible for the crisis but, like workers in other industries, they have borne a disproportionate burden of its cost. There is an urgent need to repair the damage inflicted upon them by the crisis, and therefore ITF affiliates representing hundreds of thousands of aviation workers worldwide challenge the industry, particularly carriers and aviation related companies, governments and international bodies such as the ILO, ICAO and IATA to work together to develop an effective strategy that benefits aviation workers instead of furthering their misery.

The ITF wishes to draw the attention of these parties to the recently published study entitled ‘The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Labour in the Civil Aviation Industry’ [2]by Professor Peter Turnbull of Cardiff University and Dr. Geraint Harvey of Swansea University undertaken for the International Labour Organization. The study highlights a number of important and pertinent findings that the ITF urges employers, governments and international institutions to consider seriously.

The research indicates that the aviation sector is going through structural change and that the current crisis is not simply yet another cyclical dip. In practice, this means a drive for permanent restructuring by companies with the low cost carrier (LCC) model as a key driver, and an increasing emphasis on regional and global networks. This is happening against the backdrop of a weak global economy and financial markets; intense competition from a well-developed LCC sector; and a strong drive by governments towards deregulation and ‘open skies’. The ITF is concerned over the negative implications of these developments for workers and the industry in general.

The LCC model has had a profound and negative impact on the aviation sector in many regions, forcing many full service carriers (i.e. ‘legacy’ airlines) into a downward spiral of competition, and this trend seems set to continue for the foreseeable future. A key finding of the Turnbull and Harvey study for the ILO is that labour cost competition with LCCs is effectively pointless as their operation costs remain significantly lower than full service carriers (FSCs) due to a leaner mode of operation throughout. FSCs which cut jobs and wages in response to LCC competition are not gaining a competitive advantage. What they are doing though is hurting workers and potentially jeopardising good industrial relations. More effective strategies should be developed in consultation with unions.

ITF aviation unions condemn a LCC model that treats workers as expandable and that denies them the basic right to trade union representation to bargain for decent working conditions. Some carriers have proven that it is possible to have a low cost operation and to be profitable while recognising unions and practicing good industrial relations. ITF unions already represent many workers in LCCs and are determined to fight for better wages and conditions in this sector.

The negative impact of deregulation, though well known, is worth reiterating given the damage that the ongoing promotion of this policy by governments is doing in the current downturn. ITF unions and their members have opposed deregulation. The current effort to expand deregulation would add to the instability in the industry and amplify the impact of the economic crisis on workers. It should also be pointed out that whatever position they may take in relation to deregulation, governments have a responsibility to provide social protection. Few have lived up to this responsibility or played a positive role in mitigating the social impact of the crisis on aviation workers so far.

The ITF is urgently calling on the industry’s major players - governments, employers, and international bodies like ICAO, IATA and the ILO - to work with the world’s aviation unions to alleviate the human costs that have been levied on workers in this industry under the current crisis. Our priorities must include efforts to retain jobs in the short term without cuts in wages or benefits. Of course, we must also develop programs that promote sustainable growth, stability and decent standards in this volatile industry. The ITF has developed a strategy to respond to the crisis and is ready to work with all parties to develop solutions that promote aviation workers’ rights, and is giving full support to ITF affiliates, in the true spirit of international solidarity.

[1] See “Stressed and Fatigued in the Ground and in the Sky: Changes from 2000-2007 in civil aviation workers’ conditions of work” published in 2009 by the ITF

[2] Available in this website:
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/themes/crisis/aviation.pdf

Ana Beatriz Duarte
Comunicaciones ITF-Americas
Duarte_anabeatriz@itf.org.uk
Av. Rio Branco, 26, 11º andar, Centro. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
Tel.:+55 21 22230410
Fax: +55 21 22830314
www.itf-americas.org

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