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Social Dialogue

European social dialogue refers to discussions, consultations, negotiations and joint actions involving social partners: organisations that represent the two sides of industry – employers and workers – at European level. For more information about social dialogue, see the European Commission website.

In Civil Aviation our social partners are:

  • Airport Council International (ACI Europe)
  • Airport Services Association (ASA)
  • Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO)
  • European Regions Airline Association (ERA)
  • International Air Carrier Association (AIRE)
  • Airlines Coordination Platform (ACP)
  • Airlines for Dialogue (A4D)
  • European Cockpit Association (ECA)
  • Air Traffic Controllers European Union Coordination (ATCEUC, only for the Air Traffic Management Working Group)

Currently we are focusing mainly on:

  • the role of the social partners inside EASA
  • the Commission’s Aviation Strategy for Europe
  • the implementation of the Single European Sky initiative
  • the assessment of the Ground Handling Directive 96/67/EC
  • the assessment and possible revision of Regulation 1008/2008
  • ending violence at work, especially violence against women
  • atypical employment (outsourcing, independent and self-employed workers)

Our recent achievements in civil aviation social dialogue include:

2018 – Groundhandling social dialogue support (you can find the final report with a research on market access and social conditions, vocational training and qualifications)
2016 – Toolbox for successful social dialogue in air transport management
2015 – Just culture: declaration to improve the reporting and analysis of safety information
2015 – Joint statement by AEA, ECA and ETF on atypical employment within the Air Crew Working Group
2015 – Study: ‘Atypical Employment in Aviation’
2014 – Joint declaration against EU-based flags of convenience in aviation
2013 – Joint recommendations by ATCEUC, CANSO and ETF on mobility of workers within the ATM sector
2013 – Joint statement by ATCEUC, CANSO and ETF on the SES II+ package
2012 – Guidelines for consultation arrangements for functional airspace blocks
2011 – Joint statement on the role of European social dialogue in the implementation of the Single European Sky
2011 – Joint Position on the Social Security Regime applicable to Air Crews
2011 – Statement on the revision of the ground handling directive

News about social dialogue

Statement March 5, 2020

Keep Europe moving!

We were sad to learn about another bankruptcy in civil aviation today – UK’s regional airline Flybe. The spread of the COVID-19 has had an important impact in accelerating the process towards the bankruptcy of the airline, which represents just one of the symptoms of a Europe-wide crisis. Decisive action needs to be taken to keep Europe moving.

To prevent a complete collapse of the air transport networks in the immediate future, the EU, European countries and other key authorities such as EASA need to come up with a detailed, clear and effective contingency plan.

News September 11, 2019

Toolbox for successful social dialogue in ATM

As part of a project co-financed by the EU and under the leadership of the European Transport Workers’ Federation, civil aviation social partners created the brochure ‘Toolbox for Successful Social Dialogue in ATM’. This is the video about it.

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