FPU and FPU Romania are strengthening their cross-border cooperation by signing an agreement with Latvian Aviation Union (LAU) to advance workers’ rights and promote sustainable employment practices in the aviation sector.
The Danish labour union FPU and its sister organisation FPU Romania have entered a cooperation agreement with the Latvian labour union Latvian Aviation Union (LAU).
Under the agreement, the three unions commit to cooperating on workers’ rights, aviation safety and working conditions, particularly in the Baltic region.
“We are very proud of the agreement and the strong bond between our three unions. We have worked closely together for a long time, and this formal agreement is a further step towards protecting pilots and cabin crew from social dumping and supporting unionisation efforts across borders,” says Anders Mark Jensen, Vice President of FPU.
“Aviation is very much a cross-border industry. That means labour unions also need to work together across borders on common areas of interest such as ACMI and promoting sustainable and socially responsible aviation industry practices. Aviation in the Baltic states is of a very special interest for us with the close geographic distance and airlines who operate both in the Nordic and in the Baltic,” says Anders Mark Jensen.
FPU’s international commitment to workers’ rights
FPU has for years played an active role in the international work to protect aviation workers’ rights. In addition to being a member of relevant international pilot and cabin crew organisations, FPU helped establish FPU Romania in 2020 to address the exploitation of Eastern European aviation workers.
“FPU Romania’s cooperation with FPU has shown what can be achieved when unions work closely across borders. FPU has been an important partner in helping us build and strengthen FPU Romania, and we very much look forward to building even closer ties with LAU and the Baltic region,” says Mircea Constantin, General Secretary of FPU Romania.
The agreement between the three unions will ensure cooperation and support, and it will make it seamless to transfer union membership if aviation workers are transferred from a base in one member country to a base in another.
“Aviation is highly mobile. Crew move between countries, bases, and employers. This agreement ensures that when someone moves between Latvia, Denmark, or Romania, their union protections move with them. No gaps, no waiting periods, no lost seniority or benefits,” says Dace Kavasa, Chairperson of Latvian Aviation Union.
“When emergencies strike, we already have the trust and channels to act fast as we did during the TLV evacuation after October 7th, with strong support from partners like FPU Romania. But beyond crisis response, cooperation is preventive. When unions share experience across borders, we can spot and stop new forms of exploitation before they spread. Airlines are constantly inventing new ways to undercut workers, and only by uniting can we build the resources to stand firm in negotiations with multi-million-euro carriers,” says Dace Kavasa.
