Cabin crew members are the backbone of aviation safety. Yet, despite their crucial role, they are denied the same rest and fatigue regulations that protect pilots. It’s time to change that. Across the Commonwealth, from Sierra Leone to Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, Flight Time Limitations (FTLs) are in place to safeguard cabin crew. These regulations ensure that crew members are well-rested and alert, ready to perform their duties safely. Unfortunately, Australia has lagged behind. Despite years of advocacy and compelling evidence highlighting the severe health impacts of fatigue, the Ci ..read more

Ask the President of Indonesia to stop the union busting at Garuda, the country’s flag carrier airline! Sing the petition here>> Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia’s flag carrier, is trying to destroy the oldest union at the company, SEKARGA, which represents thousands of administrative workers in the company’s offices. The attacks began in November 2023 when Garuda Indonesia, a state-owned airline, stopped membership fee deductions, as well as transfers to the union. Instead of meeting with union representatives to resolve the issues, the company has responded with hostility – denying meetin ..read more

As states get green light to implement supply chain Directive, ETF and ITF demand more from landmark law The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) are calling on European Union (EU) Member States to quickly introduce strong domestic supply chain due diligence laws to protect transport workers from corporate abuse. The EU-wide Directive mandates companies with at least 1,000 employees and €450 million annual turnover to conduct of ‘human rights due diligence’ (HRDD). This means that about 5,500 EU and non-EU companies will have t ..read more

A delegation from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), including representatives from various unions such as ver.di from Germany, represented by Robert Hengster, and Unite the Union from the UK, represented by Kris Major, alongside Gabriel Mocho Rodriguez, Secretary of the ITF Civil Aviation Section, convened at the 13th meeting of the ICAO Facilitation Panel (FALP/13) in Montreal last week. Their participation significantly influenced the discussions, focusing on crucial issues concerning the treatment and safety of aviation workers worldwide. During the discussions on “Cre ..read more

Colombia is in the process of introducing new legislation, in a significant move to safeguard the rights and well-being of workers in the aviation industry.  The proposed legislation, which was filed on 20 February in the House of Representatives and due to be considered in Parliament soon, will put an end to the escalating trend of unacceptable behaviour towards aviation staff by implementing comprehensive protection measures and strengthening existing procedures and to curb violations of legal regulations by passengers.  Recent data from the national civil aviation of the country ..read more

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) affiliate ver.di has secured an historic collective agreement, including improved wages and working conditions for over 30,000 employees at major German airports following strike action earlier this week.  This historic agreement sets a precedent by replacing numerous individual agreements and sets a new standard for the industry.  Stephen Cotton, ITF General Secretary said: “This is a major victory in the fight for fair treatment of workers and better working conditions in the ground-handling industry. The successful negotiation ..read more

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is issuing a call for solidarity as members of the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) prepare for imminent strike action at Bristow Helicopters. Amidst a protracted dispute over fair pay settlement, ITF stands in support of BALPA’s efforts to secure just compensation for its members. BALPA, representing both pilots and technical crew, including winch operators and winch paramedics, has been embroiled in negotiations with Bristow for over a year. Despite sustained discussions, the company has failed to present viable offers, promptin ..read more

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) defend the rights of striking aviation workers in Germany today (20 February) and support Ver.di’s calls for immediate and meaningful engagement on a new collective bargaining agreement, restoring wage cuts made during the Covid pandemic.  Ver.di called the strike due to management’s refusal to meaningfully engage with the union.  In an effort to achieve fairer wages and better working conditions for aviation employees, Ver.di has been negotiating for Lufthansa ground staff, fo ..read more

146 members of the US Congress have written to the CEO of Delta Air Lines urging them to stop union busting activities and commit to negotiating in good faith if their employees choose to form a union.  Delta employees announced a coordinated campaign to organise in November 2022 amongst flight attendants, fleet service workers, and technicians, supported by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).  But Delta’s history of union busting tactics whi ..read more

Security staff at some of Germany’s biggest airports, including the global hub Frankfurt, walked off the job on Thursday, grounding flights and piling pain on Europe’s largest economy. The 24-hour strike, called by labour union Verdi, is the latest in a series of industrial actions that has paralysed the country’s transportation sector in recent weeks. Almost 200,000 travellers will be affected by over 1,100 flight cancellations or delays, the German airports association ADV estimated on Wednesday as some of Germany’s biggest airports including Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart said the ..read more