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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

Press Release April 26, 2022

Collapse of EU Air Traffic Management social dialogue

Successful implementation of the Single European Sky directly depends on the adoption of a social and human dimension roadmap for the SES that can only be achieved with the full commitment of all parties.

Press Release February 7, 2022

European Trade Union Representatives support Decarbonisation of Aviation and call for Social Sustainability to underpin a just transition towards Carbon-Neutrality

The ETF, ETUC, EFFAT, UNI Europa, IndustriAll Europe and ECA welcome the Toulouse Declaration on future sustainability and decarbonisation in aviation, which was adopted on 4 February 2022 the Aviation Summit under the French presidency of the Council of the EU.
The resilience of air transport in the context of the health crisis, the reduction of the sector’s carbon footprint and the technological and social impact of these challenges were broadly debated during the two-day flagship event for aviation of the French Presidency.