Fri, Jun 26, 2009
Concerns About a Lack Of Common Legal Framework for Labor
Relations
The Air Line Pilots
Association, Int’l (ALPA) joined the European Cockpit
Association (ECA) Thursday in calling for the assurance that the
next stage of United States-European Union air services agreement
provides a legal framework that protects workers and gives them a
way to settle disputes with management.
“National labor laws in 27 European Union states create
unclear protection for airline workers who may be based in one
country, while their company may be headquartered in another, and
they may fly between cities in still another EU state,” said
Captain Paul Rice, ALPA’s first vice-president, who expressed
the support of ALPA, at a news conference in Brussels
Wednesday.
In 2005, the European Union (EU) created a European Common
Aviation Area. In this area, EU airlines operate freely between
points in Europe and are able to base their flight crews in any EU
country. However, the EU has not created a single labor law that
applies to all EU flight crews.
“The lack of a
common legal framework for EU labor relations holds the potential
to take a drastic toll on airline workers,” continued Rice,
who cited the recent example of a partnership announced by United
Airlines and Aer Lingus. The partnership seeks to allow both
airlines to sell seats on a Washington-to-Madrid route, using Aer
Lingus aircraft but not employing United or Aer Lingus pilots.
Leveraging the new US-EU agreement, management is attempting to
circumvent its contract with United pilots, whose collective
bargaining agreement reflects hard-earned pay, benefits, and job
security as a result of decades of investment and dedication to
their airline.
“I speak for all ALPA members when I pledge our support
for the European Cockpit Association and our continued resolve to
pursue regulatory, legislative, and legal action needed to create
the standard protections that airline workers on both sides of the
Atlantic have earned and deserve,” concluded Rice.
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