1. SOCIAL DUMPING IN CIVIL AVIATION ETF VIEWS
European Transport Workers’ Federation
SOCIAL DUMPING IN CIVIL AVIATION ETF VIEWS
European Economic and Social Committee Hearing
Brussels, 16 April 2015
François Ballestero, ETF Political Secretary

2. Introduction Social dumping exists
Difficulty to have a common definition
5 important information: - ECJ, ruling on 18 December 2007 on Laval - Commission conference on 4 June Informal Transport Ministers’ Council meeting on 7 October Various initiatives from the European Parliament (TRAN and EMPL) - ETUC and ETF campaigns

3. Social dumping in aviation
ETF definition
Practice designed to take advantage of competition between workers from different EU and third countries (cheapest salary, the use (abuse) of agency temporary workers, subcontracting, bogus self-employment, offshoring, etc). Some companies use loopholes in legislation.
The dangers are the following:
no level playing field between the companies
unfair competition, which leads to unfair European aviation industry
spiral of unacceptable social dumping practices
lack of cohesion in Europe
The consequences are the following:
massive redundancies
bankruptcy and closure of airlines

4. ETF vision for the future
Fair civil aviation in Europe
Safety of passengers and high quality of aviation services
Yes to free movement and freedom of establishment
End of social dumping
Yes to fair working conditions and social rights for the aviation employees
The single market must develop within a social framework!

5. The ETF calls for fair rules
The ETF has identified 12 proposals to prevent social dumping and flags of convenience in European aviation. These solutions concern the EU aviation legislative framework as well as a comprehensive range of social proposals.

6. 12 ETF proposals
Recognition of trade unions in all companies in all countries where they employ personnel and of their ability to negotiate collective agreements, including the transnational level
Improvement of the Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 on common rules for the operation of air services – binding application of national social legislation + principal place of business
Improvement of Regulation (EC) N° 868/2004 concerning protection against subsidization unfair pricing practices

7. 12 ETF proposals
Improvement of the Regulation 987/2009 on social security coordination
Improvement of the Regulation (EU) No 805/2011 (ATCO licence)
Improvement of the Directive on Temporary Agency Work (2008/104/EC) to promote direct employment
Improvement of the Council Directive 2000/79/EC on Working Time of Mobile Workers in Civil Aviation
Improvement of the Directive 2011/98 EU (single permit directive) to extend it to aircrew

8. 12 ETF proposals
Adoption of an EU legislation against bogus self-employment
Negotiation of an agreement between the EU civil aviation social partners on labor laws applicable and on the social rights of the civil aviation employees
Adoption of a new Ground Handling Regulation - binding social protection & application of a representative collective agreement
An EU observatory on jobs and working conditions is needed in civil aviation

9. The EU players must act now!
After studying, after discussing and after debating, the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Transport Ministers must move and act.
After meeting and after discussing, the social partners need to deliver as well.