Ekaterina Yordanova, President of Bulgaria’s transport union FTTUB, will become Vice-President of the prominent International Transport Workers’ Federation, the ITF’s Congress agreed as it closed today in Sofia.
Yordanova, who is currently a member of the ITF’s Executive Board, will take up the role in 2016. Delegates elected her in recognition of her “extrordinary leadership capacity and proven ability to involve, engage and deliver for transport workers”, the organisation’s Australian president Paddy Crumlin said.
The FTTUB has hosted 1,700 participants from 114 countries in Sofia since the ITF opened the doors on its decision-making body here, on 10th August. Together they represent four million workers in air, maritime and land transport.
The Congress, which takes key decisions every four years and sets the ITF’s work programme, was hailed as particularly successful by all – ranging from first-time delegates to new ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton, also elected today.
As well as the official sessions, which were interpreted over 13 languages, the ITF ran 28 side events on topics such as women’s leadership, privatisation and informal workers. 120 local union volunteers supported the Congress activities and got involved in discussions as well as helping delegates.
“It was my dream to bring global issues to local people here in Sofia – and to be able to share our own experiences with transport workers from so many different countries and in all the different areas of transport,” said Yordanova. “But despite those differences we agree on the most important things. Unions that put workers first have more power – and together we are stronger,” she added.
For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson. Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260. Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk
International Transport Workers’ Federation – ITF: HEAD OFFICE ITF House, 49 – 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733 Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871 Email: mail@itf.org.uk Web: www.itfglobal.org