We would like to pay tribute to Torbjørn Lothe in NHO Luftfart for the fact that in a column on news Ytring on 8 July he advocates agreements where working conditions are not to be a central part of the airlines’ competitive conditions. The Norwegian Pilots ‘Association will be a constructive contributor in a partnership that better protects employees’ working conditions. However, such a process must be carried out independently of an ongoing strike. The Norwegian Pilots’ Association has already started a constructive dialogue with NHO Luftfart and Parat about industry agreements in aviation can be a possible way to go to create a more socially and economically sustainable aviation. We support NHO Aviation’s initiative to also include Swedish and Danish parties in aviation in a further process. Aviation is one of the world’s most thoroughly regulated industries in terms of technical requirements and standards, but this does not apply to the same extent to employees’ working conditions. Global aviation has increasingly been characterized by unhealthy competition, atypical company and employment models and creative twists and turns from employers who organize themselves away from both employer responsibility and social responsibility. The Norwegian Pilots’ Association is positive to all measures that promote fair and healthy competition. The competition will not be at the expense of employees’ pay and working conditions, threatening collective agreements and a decent working life. A joint industry agreement for aviation can be a contribution to ensure this. Such a joint agreement can also be a tool for a process that strengthens the parties’ cooperation. However, a possible industry agreement must not collectively impair the employees’ accrued rights. In the case of regulations and agreements, it is therefore essential that companies that operate seriously offer their employees fair terms and conditions and relate to the parties’ cooperation, so that it is not disadvantaged. At the same time, Lothe proposes that ongoing strikes should be terminated when carrying out a process of establishing an industry agreement. Establishing an industry agreement will involve many actors on both the employee and employer side and will take time. Ongoing labor disputes must therefore follow the usual organizational track in working life. Here we want to emphasize that strikes are employees’ most important means of combat, and also defense, against, for example, social dumping. At the same time, political authorities must step up stricter regulation of working and employment conditions in working life – and in aviation. A solid foundation has been laid in the Hurdal platform, and the government’s announced major cleaning of working life is underway. We have high expectations for this work. There is no doubt that there are several aspects of aviation that are not sustainable. When the parties’ cooperation is actively used and works well, employers and employees together will be able to find good sustainable solutions for the benefit of all parties – and for the passengers. The Norwegian Pilots ‘Association has made a significant effort over many years to solve employees’ challenges in aviation. We are optimistic, since both the government and the industry themselves have seen the challenges. We therefore look forward to a strengthened partnership that aims to strengthen the Scandinavian working life model. Read the article:
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Strengthened party cooperation in aviation – Expression
