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Along with consolidation there are arguments being made that airspace can be transferred between locations to address staffing imbalances. It is clear that certain employers see this flexibility as a way to ensure that industrial action does not disrupt the flow of traffic, as the airspace could be transferred to another unit.

This technique can also facilitate outsourcing. Reports suggest the technology exists to provide air traffic services remotely. As soon as there is the political will, it will be possible to transfer those functions to countries with lower labour costs.

However these ideas do not address a number of questions regarding staff training and competence as well as technical capacity.

We have seen significant reductions in our technical and engineering workforces. The financial difficulties of the airlines are being used as a stick against air traffic services employees just as they are against their own employees.

Primarily we need to advance and promote the day-to-day work of ATS employees, but also to develop a recognition of the value in ensuring that their expertise is included in the development of plans for future airspace systems. We should work to promote the role of the workers in the safety chain, and the principle that a just culture is necessary to maintain that safety chain.

Edited extract of a statement made at conference by the air traffic controllers committee

Embracing change

Cabin crew

Participants at a meeting of cabin crew representatives during the conference agreed they would like the ITF to establish minimum standards and regional benchmarks for cabin crew. They also agreed they would like to see unions renewing their efforts to get companies to sign global codes of conduct. In the longer term they saw a role for the ITF in devising a model international framework agreement to include clauses on:

• job security
• the harmonisation of training standards
• employment, health and safety standards.

Ground staff committee

The ITF ground staff committee – representing check-in, catering, maintenance, cleaners, baggage handlers, administration, and sales staff et al- identified a number of possible campaign areas during its discussions. These included:

• health and safety issues
• a formula for a minimum number of ground crew per plane
• joint campaigning with other aviation employee groups, for example on the issue of fatigue
• targeting more low cost carriers
• information exchange networks.