The first meeting regarding the 23rd collective-bargaining agreement period took place yesterday between Turkish Airlines Inc. and the Turkish Civil Aviation Union at the General Management Building of the airline at 14:00pm.

At the meeting management refused to discuss basic and indispensable demands regarding workers' employment conditions, including major problems faced by foreign pilots.

Management’s wage offer -3 percent wage increase for 2010 and 3 percent wage increase for 2011- is nothing but derisory.

With 10.45 percent increase rate, Turkish inflation broke double digits in December to reach its highest level in three years. Even worse annualized inflation leaped by 10.61 percent in January. Furthermore, the Turkish Central Bank increased its expectations on year-end inflation. Read more...

Cabin crew and ground workers at the Spanish airline Iberia have called off planned strike action after they reached a new deal with their airline employer, which extends employment guarantees.

Most of the unions representing cabin crew and ground staff – including the Union General de Trabajadores and the Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras – reached a settlement with management at Iberia last week. They had been planning strike action on 3 February in a bid to gain job security guarantees following the establishment of new low cost carrier Iberia Express. Read more...

In the face of a worsening economic and social situation and the ever-tougher austerity measures being imposed by Europe’s leaders as the only solution, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has called for a European day of action on 29 February, the eve of the European Council. Trade unions will mobilise across Europe to have jobs and social justice placed at the heart of political priorities.

ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol declared: "European trade unions are mobilising to say ’enough is enough’. Austerity measures are not the only answer to the crisis. On the contrary, they cause tremendous social damage. The draft international treaty that will be on the agenda of next week’s summit reinforces austerity. Its sole objective is to reduce public deficits as much as possible, regardless of the social impact. Europe cannot continue to impose measures that do not work, that plunge countries deeper into the crisis and impoverish more and more people. For the European trade unions, this treaty must include a strong social component. Balanced budgets are necessary but austerity alone exacerbates imbalances. A policy of stimulation of the economy through investments should be the solution of choice."

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On Tuesday, pilots employed by the Iberia airline announced another five days of industrial against the creation of a low-cost carrier. The pilots at the carrier have staged seven strike days over the issue in just over a month.

The pilots are supporting protests called by land workers and cabin crew for February 13, 17, 20, 24 and 29. Pilots say the decision to transfer 40 Iberia aircraft to the new carrier jeopardizes around 5,000 jobs.

Polish aviation trade unionist sacked AGAIN

Our international federation the ITF is again calling on civil aviation affiliates to stand in solidarity beside the LOT Polish Airlines Cabin Personnel Trade Union. Union president, Elwira Niemiec has been dismissed once again as she, along with representatives of the pilot’s union, is involved in attempts to secure fair negotiations with management over a new collective bargaining agreement for workers.

The union believes that LOT is engaging in blatant anti-union actions in a bid to derail negotiations. The union and the ITF are calling for the immediate reinstatement of Elwira Niemiec and good faith negotiations between management and the unions in the hope of reaching an agreement which is acceptable to both parties.

Send a letter of protest to the CEO of LOT now!

Ground staff members at a Spanish airline have voted in favour of industrial action to secure job guarantees following the establishment of a new low cost carrier.

The workers, represented by the ITF-affiliated Union General de Trabajadores and the Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras, employed by Iberia, are set to start a programme of 24-hour strikes on 3 February. The action will continue every Monday and Friday thereafter. The ground staff could be joined by their cabin crew counterparts if they vote in favour of industrial action on 20 January. Read more...

Air India pilots walked off the job on January 14 over salary payment shortfalls since August. The strike began just before negotiations between the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association and Air India were due to begin. Pilots returned to work the next day, after airline management promised to clear their “salary backlog in phases.”

Over 600 cabin crew and members of the Aviation Industry Employees Guild (AIEG), walked out in sympathy with the pilots.

Fijian trade unionist Rajeshwar Singh is the latest victim of the military-led Fijian government's determination to silence dissent. He has been removed from the country's Air Terminal Services board on the orders of the government for supporting calls for tourists to boycott the country in protest at its ongoing campaign against trade unions.

ITF president Paddy Crumlin commented: “Another week, another attempt to silence opposition. From arrests, to blocking outside investigators, to this. It's all the same business – the Bainimarama regime hoping to gag all criticism at home and abroad and we won't stand for it.” Read more...