On 22 May 2020, a delegation of the OGBL, LCGB and NGL-SNEP trade unions met with the Minister of Mobility and Public Works to discuss the future of Luxembourgish aviation, which is likely to be permanently affected by the effects of the current health crisis. The Minister made a number of commitments which respond in particular to the demands of the OGBL.

Even if the sector has proved to be an essential pillar for the functioning of our society, it will undoubtedly be affected by the consequences and repercussions for a longer period of time. During this meeting, the trade unions nevertheless emphasised their priority regarding the guarantee of employment and underlined that the employees cannot under any circumstances suffer any loss or deterioration of their social benefits. The health and safety of employees, the safeguarding of employees’ existence and the maintenance of social benefits remain a priority.

In order to guarantee health and safety and to soften the repercussions of this, the trade unions call for :

• coordination between the various companies and authorities to put in place clear safety instructions to be applied at the various places and crossing points within the terminal and on the aircraft;
• the introduction of COVID-19 tests on a voluntary basis for employees.
• the setting up of a working group on Luxair’s future strategy, focusing on the vision of the future of Cargo, Airline, LuxairTours and LuxairServices. Staff representatives and trade unions must be part of this working group ;
• guarantees for the total safeguard of jobs to avoid fears of redundancies;
• the introduction of assistance to aviation companies in case of need, in order to guarantee the survival of companies, the safeguard of employment and the protection of employees’ social benefits. Many EU governments have decided to grant such financial aid to the aviation sector;
• the improvement and extension of short-time working as an anti-crisis instrument;
• limiting the use of precarious employment contracts (temporary, fixed-term, seasonal, “contractors”, etc.);
• fighting at European level against social dumping in the aviation sector and the introduction of social criteria for European aid.

On the occasion of this meeting, the Minister of Mobility and Public Works underlined the strategic importance of the aviation sector for the national economy and expressed his willingness to support companies in difficulty.

The Minister also supported the trade unions’ demand for the establishment of a working group on the future to be defined for Luxair.

The OGBL welcomes the Minister’s commitment to organize a sectoral tripartite for aviation by autumn 2020 at the latest.

The Minister finally announced that he wants to set up a strategy of COVID-19 screening tests for employees in the context of the resumption of activities at the airport.

Communicated by the OGBL, LCGB and NGL-SNEP,
on mai 22, 2020