Published 21 Apr, 2011
TWU and the unions representing workers at partner airlines in the One World Alliance, which includes American Airlines and American Eagle, announced today April 20, 2011 that they are forming the One World of Labour Council in order to forge new strategies and build stronger relationships for defending workers and ensuring decent jobs in a globalized industry.
“We are here to build and strengthen international solidarity. We know that the airlines are getting together and working together and unions also need a common position to deal with these new alliances, to negotiate as equals and to defend the rights’ of the workers we represent,” said Gabriel Mocho Rodriguez of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF).
The announcement was the culmination of meetings coordinated by the ITF between fourteen unions representing workers at eight airlines in the One World Alliance from eight different countries. The union representatives met in Washington, DC at the TWU International headquarters to discuss strategies, share experiences and coordinate action.
The TWU helped spearhead the international solidarity efforts in order to enable unions to respond to a rapidly changing industry and build the power of workers at American Airlines and other carriers to bargain decent contracts and prevent outsourcing.
“TWU International President James C. Little recognized early on that it is in our best interest to form a One World of Labour Council – a partnership amongst workers that would assist us in developing communications systems, sharing information, and examining common problems and goals,” said John Conley, TWU International Administrative Vice President, speaking at the press event on April 20.
Linda White, Assistant National Secretary Australian Services Union, said that during the meetings the union representatives were able to share stories and see that everyone was confronting the same issues, like outsourcing and diminishing work conditions.
As TWU Locals representing members at American Airlines continue ongoing contract negotiations, the international connections will help leverage power and build pressure to get a fair deal.
Conley said that as airlines create global partnerships that function as de-facto mergers, workers should share in any success and that these new relationships should not circumvent collective bargaining.
“We are committed to strengthening our relationships and supporting each other in negotiations, organizing efforts and campaigns and to extending all lawful, practical support under our national legal frameworks in order to achieve fair conditions for our members,” said Rodriguez.