the aerospace industry can only win the battle of the clean and digital aircraft of tomorrow by investing in innovation and its workforce, not by cutting costs

Last week, trade unionists representing workers in the aeronautics supply chain in Eastern Europe met in Rzeszów, a city situated in the aviation valley of Southeastern Poland, to discuss the economic, environmental and social issues facing the aviation sector - and to find common solutions.

The meeting was the second of three regional workshops organised under industriAll Europe’s EU-funded project FLY-SUS: ‘Strengthening Cooperation through the Supply Chain for a Sustainable Transformation of the Aviation Sector’. It brought together trade unions from Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, France and the UK.

Opening the workshop, Isabelle Barthès, industriAll Europe’s Deputy General Secretary, introduced the aims of the FLY-SUS project. The project focuses on the challenges in aviation supply chains linked to the twin transition, with the goal of mapping value chains, gaining a better understanding of regional challenges, and promoting sustainable solutions including the role of social dialogue.

“The EU aviation sector is a high-tech sector that provides thousands of highly qualified and skilled jobs throughout the value chain. However, the constant pressure on prices exerted on the supply chain is not sustainable and is threatening the technological leadership of the EU sector. The increase in working hours and deterioration of working conditions is taking a heavy toll on workers.

“Faced with the challenge of the twin transitions, the aerospace industry can only win the battle of the clean and digital aircraft of tomorrow by investing in innovation and its workforce, not by cutting costs”, said Isabelle Barthès.

Isabelle Barthès added that the green and digital transformation is a challenge for both workers and companies along the aerospace value chain. Involving workers and their representatives and giving them a seat at the table are a must to successfully manage the transitions.

Project partner Syndex provided an overview of the current situation in Eastern Europe’s aeronautics industry. The sector continues to suffer from fragile supply chains in the aftermath of recent crises, but also faces long-standing structural challenges, including underinvestment, supply difficulties and labour shortages. These issues were then discussed in a roundtable format, allowing union representatives to share national experiences.

A further session, organised by Syndex, focused on training and skills in the aeronautics industry, with the participation of trade union representatives from Poland and the UK, together with Professor Dorota Stadnicka, Head of the Lean Learning Academy at Rzeszów University of Technology.

The workshop concluded with a visit to the Safran Aircraft Engines plant in Rzeszów, where participants toured the factory producing engine blades and met with company management and HR representatives.

The next regional FLY-SUS workshop will take place in November in Madrid, Spain, with the project concluding in January 2026 in Brussels at a final conference.

More information about the FLY-SUS workshop