The announcement of the French Ministry of Transport to support the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) consolidation in Functional Airspace Block Europe Central (FABEC) has created a tense situation in France.
Following this announcement, four French unions members of ETF (CGT-CFDT-FO-UNSA) and CGC, representing the vast majority of ATM staff, decided to call for an industrial action on the 13th/14th January 2010. The strike was a success and many workers decided to protest against this unilateral decision.
The ETF strongly supports its members in this fight and for the following actions that they might decide on during the coming weeks.
The ETF acknowledges that FABs can bring some additional improvements over a certain period. However, this consolidation model for the implementation of FABs is unsupportable for the ETF. One single ANSP for the whole FABEC-project could definitively not guarantee that it would enhance safety or cost-effectiveness and creates indefensible social impact. Therefore, the strong signal from the ATM personnel on the 13th/14th January is more than justified. There are other options available to reach a coherent air traffic control system for Europe. Options, which could improve safety, increase flight efficiency and secure the social consequences of FAB implementation.
The ETF is convinced that a harmonization of the air traffic is possible with positive social consequences instead of social losses. The ETF defends a model
of cooperation instead of consolidation to establish sustainable Functional Airspace Blocks (FAB).
