Today, Monday 14 October 2013, over 200 air traffic management (ATM) staff delegates from across Europe demonstrate in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, following the call of the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF).They protest to express their disagreement with the new package on the Single European Sky (SES), called SES2+, adopted last June by the European Commission. They call the European Parliament to stop dogmatic liberalisation of the ATM industry. They say “Enough is enough” and “No” to a SES that jeopardizes jobs in Europe.
ETF demands a social dimension inside the Single European Sky
The new package adopted by the Commission finds little support from the Member States as more and more countries reject the proposals of the Commission. The ETF expects that the European Parliament will also freeze the SES2+.
“We oppose a SES based on market principles, top-down approach and cost reductions, which would jeopardize safety and the number and quality of jobs” said François Ballestero, ETF Political Secretary. “By organising this demonstration, the ETF refuses that the public service role of the ATM industry in Europe is put at risk by unbundling support services (MET, CNS, Training, AIS), which, in many countries, are part of the core business of the Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs)”.
In addition, the ETF is of the opinion that a structural mandatory separation between supervisory and service provision is not needed. The real need is to achieve the already existing SES2 package, adopted in 2009, which requires some additional time.
“We also reject a performance scheme dominated by unrealistic targets and forecasts, which destabilizes the economic viability of a majority of ANSPs, and by cost reduction that mainly aims to cut on jobs” added Riccardo Rubini, Chair of the ETF Air Traffic Management Committee. He continued: “We are in favour of a SES that respects and creates jobs, improves the working conditions and maintains the collective agreements”.
ETF affiliates from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Slovakia and UK are participating to the Demonstration.
For further information, please contact François Ballestero, ETF political Secretary, f.ballestero@etf-europe.org – tel: +32 474916979
