Aviation workers hold seminar on air safety and public benefit

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Aviation workers hold seminar on air safety and public benefit

The Japan Federation of Aviation Workers' Unions held a seminar from January 31 to February 1 in Tokyo to discuss ways to ensure air safety and serve the public interest. The meeting issued a set of "proposals from aviation workers" calling for tightening safety regulations and attaching importance to public interests.

Many speakers exposed the harsh working conditions that threaten airline safety due to deregulations.

Pointing out that at Japan Airlines, about 100 workers are on leaves of absence due to health problems", a JAL worker said that it is necessary to urge airline companies to shorten working hours from the present 12 hours and to make appropriate shift plans.

A flight attendant stated, "Flight attendants are not necessarily full-time workers; they include many contract workers. Working conditions differ according to type of employment. Crewmembers are forced to work longer hours than before. This undermines teamwork and safety because it is hard for people in unstable employment situations to express opinions. It is essential to offer full-time positions to all cabin attendants and to improve their working conditions."

Regarding aircraft maintenance, airline companies rush to outsource all maintenance jobs to sub-contractors in order to cut costs, and maintenance workers are forced to work long hours including 12 hour shifts and continuous night shifts. All Nippon Airways has introduced different pay scales for different types of employment.

A ground crew worker said, "We are low-paid. Errors and work-related accidents occur frequently, and this affects the safety of flights. Airline companies should develop their own systems to maintain airplanes and sub-contractors should improve working conditions."

A participant spoke about cutbacks going on in air traffic control personnel. He said that the government should recruit additional air control staff and security staff in an integrated manner.

The proposal urged the government to ensure air safety instead of carrying out further deregulation and to change its priority from construction of new airports to development of safety and increasing passenger convenience.

- Akahata, February 3, 2009