The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has issued the following comment on the first phase of the strikes called by Iberia workers in defence of their jobs.
Speaking from the ILO (International Labour Organization) aviation global dialogue forum in Geneva, ITF civil aviation secretary Gabriel Mocho said: “As a strike this is undoubtedly a success, but it’s a strike Iberia’s workers didn’t want. Both the airline and the unions were working on a plan that would safeguard jobs and profitability. Its failure can be laid at Willie Walsh’s door.”
He continued: “It is clear that Willie Walsh (CEO of IAG, the parent group of Iberia and British Airways) clamped down on local management to doom any chance of a negotiated plan. In doing so he has singlehandedly turned not just an entire airline, but, it looks like, an entire country against him. He has caused internal wounds within IAG from which it may never wholly recover.”
Mocho concluded: “What’s happening at Iberia coincides with a major ILO forum which has brought together unions, employers and governments to tackle the effects of the global economic crisis on the aviation industry. Everyone at it is working towards a sustainable industry. The contrast is all too obvious. At the forum workers are supporting cooperation and negotiation while outside it Willie Walsh is pushing for conflict. The costs of that stance are being paid by Iberia’s passengers and staff.”
For more on the ILO global dialogue forum please see
For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson. Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260. Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk
International Transport Workers’ Federation – ITF: HEAD OFFICE ITF House, 49 – 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733 Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871 Email: mail@itf.org.uk Web: www.itfglobal.org