Right to strike
ETF together with ATCEUC, today published a press release in response to the attack from Airlines 4 Europe (A4E) on the right to strike for ATM workers. A4E have been particularly vocal over the last few months, heavily criticising ATM personnel who strike to defend their rights. ETF maintain that the right to strike is protected by European treaty and is a matter for national law. Furthermore A4E have published a study based on inaccurate data, vastly inflating the impact of strikes, and failing to recognise many other causes of delay to the public, which is mostly in their gift. ETF and ATCEUC have responded today with a joint statement, exposing the inaccuracies of this study, and the fact that the right to strike is enshrined in EU treaty. ETF firmly believe that the way to address strikes is to have proper social dialogue in line with the Toolbox that has been developed by the social partners. The statement is published below, please feel free to redistribute at national level.
ETF co-signs the joint stakeholder statement on drones
ETF CO-SIGNS THE JOINT STAKEHOLDER STATEMENT ON DRONES
The ETF has joined other stakeholders from manned aviation in the call for a robust harmonized EU-wide regulatory safety framework for drones. The signatories also expressed their serious concern about the safety of manned aircraft in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
At the same time, the ETF expects that all the safety and security aspects of drone operations will be addressed in the current revision of the EASA Basic Regulation.
Bratislava Conference Joint Statement
IMPROVING TOGETHER THE FUTURE OF ATM
On 8 - 9 September 2016, the ATM social partners met in Bratislava for the final conference of their joint social dialogue project. Besides members of ATCEUC, ETF and CANSO, the audience included experts, representatives of professional organisations and other stakeholders.
Welcome and keynote speeches were delivered by the Slovak Director General for Civil Aviation, the CEO of the Slovak Air Navigation Services providers and the European Commission.
In the context of fundamental changes that European air traffic management is undergoing, the three social partners (SP) confirmed the need for a genuine and effective social dialogue that will help deliver the solutions understood and embraced by workers and management alike. They jointly presented the Toolbox For Successful Social Dialogue in ATM that they produced. They noted the support of the European Commission for it.
The participants had the opportunity to exchange on a number of important topics, such as just culture and occurrence reporting, new technologies and automation, task safety impact assessment and ATCO licensing. All of these topics were discussed in the context of social dialogue and staff involvement.
At the end of the conference, the social partners adopted a joint statement summing up the results of the project and reiterating their commitment to continue working together.
download the statement : atm-sp-joint-statement
ATM Social Dialogue Working Group Final Conference
Francois Ballestero is opening the Conference on ATM Social Dialogue in Bratislava
You can download the agenda here: final-programme-atm-conference-bratislava-080916
ETF and ATCEUC reject Commission’s study on minimum services
ETF AND ATCEUC REJECT COMMISSION’S STUDY ON MINIMUM SERVICES
ETF and ATCEUC, the ATM Social Partners representing workers, sent a letter to Commissioner Bulc informing her that the two organisations refuse to participate in the study on minimum services in air traffic management. First of all, the right to strike is according to Article 153 of the TFEU not an EU competence. Secondly, the Commission ignores the fact that strikes and industrial actions are the expression of social difficulties and bad social dialogue. Among other things, the excessive pressure has been caused by the performance pillar of the SES which created many difficulties in every ANSP in Europe.
ETF Brochure on Remote Towers
The Remote Tower technology is advancing rapidly. It is important that regulators, Air Navigation Service Providers and staff engage on the subject to ensure that where remote towers are deployed, they are done so in a way that is safe, measured and with the appropriate consideration for staff. The technology has advanced ahead of proper regulation and a consistent and considered effort is now required by all stakeholders to ensure the appropriate regulatory environment is created. The social consequences need to be properly considered and the arising issues must be addressed. Whilst the ETF is generally supportive of the concept, provided it is deployed taking in to consideration the themes contained in this document, the ETF absolutely rejects the concept of simultaneous operations, i.e. the operation of more than one airport at the same time by one person. The ETF will continue to engage with all stakeholders and take a leading role as Remote Tower technology becomes more widely introduced
Fatigue Management Guide for Air Traffic Service Providers
ETF is a key stakeholder in seeking to ensure the safety of the transportation provided to the travelling public. Aviation safety is dependent Air Traffic Services provided by a host of workers.
Managing Fatigue is key to the provision of safe operations and services in Aviation and ETF is pleased to see the developments in the provision of guidance on this subject from ICAO.
ITF meets ICAO
A delegation from the ITF met informally with representatives of ICAO in order to foster more effective working relationship.
The ITF delegation comprised Joe Magee, Suresh Tewari, Mike Reed, Luigi d'Iddio and Safiyanu Mohammed Dauda.
ICAO representatives comprised:
Steve Creamer: Director, Air Navigation Bureau, ICAO
Chris Dalton: Chief, Airspace Management and Oprimization, ICAO
Discussions covered the broad areas of technology and automation, remote tower funtions and the upcoming ICAO conference on this subject, fostering appropriate and effective working relationshp and of course fatigue management.
Joint Letter for an easier access for GA pilots to IFR flying
ETF CANSO and ATCEUC signed a joint letter to Mr. Kessler,Deputy Head, Atm/ans And Aerodrome Department of EASA (more…)
ETF Statement on Social Dialogue in Civil Aviation
The European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), organising more than 250,000 civil aviation workers across Europe, follows with great concern the latest developments among the airline employers' associations at European level. In particular, the ETF is concerned about the future of the sectoral social dialogue in this sector of the industry. (more…)
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