Italian aviation workers will exercise their right to strike today after unions representing aviation transport workers across Italy called for a 24-hour strike in defence of workers severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
All unions representing workers across Italy in the aviation sector, including ETF affiliates FILT CGIL Nazionale, FIT CISL Nazionale and UILTRASPORTI Nazionale, are asking for the protection of all aviation professionals who have been severely hit by the crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amongst the main demands workers put forward are: no layoffs, respecting health and safety protocols and standards at work, application of the national collective agreement and strengthened social dialogue with a strong call to Italian institutions to actively support the Civil Aviation sector.
Since March 2020 the ETF has been highlighting similar issues at European level.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on the whole aviation sector and its workers, including ground staff, air crews, as well as air traffic management workers. According to ETF’s estimates, based on information provided by several affiliates at the beginning of 2020, around 60 per cent of airport-based workers were out of work.
Even with vaccinations becoming more widespread in Europe, the devastating impact on the aviation sector and its workers continues.
The European aviation sector needs stability and support to survive. The ETF has been calling and will continue to call on the European institutions as well as Member States to provide additional support measures to the European aviation sector and its workers.
The ETF stands in solidarity with all impacted workers.
