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European and Arab World aviation unions brought together for the first time
16 October 2009
Aviation unions in Europe and the Arab World fostered links at a ground-breaking conference in Jordan last week in a bid to counter the effects of deregulation and the global economic crisis on workers.
The unions met at the civil aviation conference for air transport unions in Europe and the Arab World in Amman – the first ever to bring together aviation unions from the two regions. There they focused on the deregulation of the industry and the impact of the financial crisis, tackling ways of working together to mitigate the consequences for aviation workers. They also expressed concern over the growth of non-unionised airlines.
In addition, discussions covered topics such as minimum working conditions, flying hours, rest, maternity leave and maximum baggage weight limits. Delegates also put together practical recommendations, which will be submitted to the ITF’s congress next year. These included: organising more meetings to bring together workers from different regions; supporting aviation unions in Iraq to build democratic organisations and working with other international federations to promote trade union organising and freedom of association in the Gulf countries.
Some 80 participants from 10 Arab countries and 10 European countries attended the meeting, which was held on 7-8 October, and organised by the ITF and its European arm, the European Transport Workers’ Federation.
Bilal Malkawi, ITF Arab World representative, commented: “This conference was a sign of the seriousness with which the ITF takes cross regional cooperation – this work is now a priority. These solidarity meeting will strengthen workers’ voices in both regions and in turn strengthen the ITF’s work globally. This work could be replicated and rolled out internationally.”
ITF civil aviation section secretary Gabriel Mocho stated: "We need to work hard to ensure that workers in non-union airlines in the Arab World region and beyond get the opportunity to organise. In the long-run this will not only help protect the working conditions of those workers, but also of organised workers. That is our challenge."
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