Civil aviation
| Workers’ representatives |
European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) (1999) |
| European Cockpit Association (ECA) (1991) |
|
| Employers’ representatives |
Airport Council International (ACI-Europe) (1991) |
| Association of European Airlines (AEA) (1952) |
|
| Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) (1996) |
|
| European Regions Airline Association (ERAA) (1980) |
|
| International Air Carrier Association (IACA) (1971) |
|
| International Aviation Handlers' Association (IAHA) |
Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee (SSDC)
| Informal working group: |
1990 |
| SSDC: |
2000 |
| Internal Rules: |
10 June 2003 |
| Work Programme: |
2005-2006-2007-2008-2009 |
General overview
The European civil aviation sector has undergone significant expansion as a result of EU liberalisation and deregulation policies since the late 1980s. This sector accounted for 8.8% of all passenger journeys within the Union in 2007. Since 2005 it has been the second most heavily used means of transport after private cars, coming ahead of buses, coaches and railways.
Outcomes
As in many other sectors falling under EU common policies, social dialogue in civil aviation has generated numerous texts which can be regarded as a joint means of lobbying the Community institutions. Around two thirds of the documents adopted are in fact joint opinions relating to European air transport policy.
Participants and challenges
Civil aviation is one of the sectors where the social partners’ representative bodies are the most fragmented. The workers are represented by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and, for cabin crew, by the ECA (European Cockpit Association). The employers’ organisations sitting on the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee are ACI-Europe, the European region of ACI (Airport Council International); the AEA (Association of European Airlines), representing the major carriers; CANSO (the Civil Air Navigation Service Organisation) for the air traffic controllers; the ERAA (European Regions Airline Association); the IACA (International Air Carrier Association) which represents the leisure carriers; and the IAHA (International Aviation Handlers Association) which represents the independent ground-handling companies.
Joint texts
The “civil aviation” sectoral social dialogue has resulted, since 1990, in the adoption of 35 joint texts.
ETUI and Observatoire Social Européen (2010) European Sectoral Social Dialogue Factsheets. Project coordinated by Christophe Degryse, online publication available at www.worker-participation.eu/EU-Social-Dialogue/Sectoral-ESD
