ETF Unites for the Second Annual European Day Against Driver Fatigue ETF hosted its second annual European Day Against Driver Fatigue. This day of action, held on the longest day of the year, continued the momentum built by the inaugural campaign in 2023, bringing attention to the critical issue of driver fatigue in the road transport sector. Coordinated with ETF affiliates across Europe, the event underscored the demanding conditions that professional drivers endure daily. News 24 Jun 2024
EU Talent Pool Proposal gives green light to more Grafenhausen-like cases The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) wants to expose the fundamental threat posed by the European Commission’s “Talent Pool” proposal to the integrity of transport sectors and the rights of workers. As the Council of Ministers inches closer to a potential agreement under the Belgian Presidency as early as 10 June, the ETF mobilises in a bid to halt this progression without listening to Unions. Press Release 7 Jun 2024
Opinion: Third country drivers in road transport: the new wave of social dumping The road transport sector in Europe plays a vital role in supporting the economy, facilitating commerce, and ensuring connectivity. However, this critical industry hides a troubling reality of exploitation, precarity, human rights abuses, and unfair competition. The latest wave of exploitation targets third-country nationals: drivers recruited from non-European countries under questionable arrangements and precarious conditions, as part of a business model where they are employed in countries where they never actually work. News 15 May 2024
EU Land Transport Labour Market: A Critical Examination of Trends and Policy Implications Two years ago, the ETF launched a project to look in more detail at the roots of the above trends. Three reports – on road, rail and urban public transport were developed within the frame of the project to cast light on how liberalisation and market-opening policies led to undesirable effects that put at stake the very goals and objectives set by the same policymakers. Publication 8 May 2024
ETF and IRU Call for EU Action on Third-country Driver Rights and Conditions Europe’s road transport social partners, IRU and ETF, today signed and handed over their road transport social partners joint declaration on creating a European framework to improve the working conditions of third-country drivers employed by EU-based companies to EU Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit. Press Release 19 Apr 2024
EFBWW, EFFAT and ETF join forces to Combat Labour Exploitation in Subcontracting Chains and Labour intermediation EFBWW, EFFAT, and ETF have joined forces to confront the common challenges of abusive subcontracting, unregulated labour intermediaries, and insufficient enforcement of existing workers’ rights within their sectors. These issues underpin high levels of social dumping and labour crime, unequal treatment in the workplace, low wages, unrecorded working hours, disrespect for health and safety rules, and labour exploitation, especially towards migrant and mobile workers. Press Release 9 Apr 2024
Joint Position Paper: Subcontracting Chains and Intermediaries – Stop Exploitation resource 8 Apr 2024
ETF at the Tripartite Social Summit Concrete measures must be implemented to deter those who exploit the internal market by establishing letter-box companies in countries with lower working conditions and protections while providing services in more economically prosperous countries. This includes discouraging those who flout posting rules or engage in fraudulent employment schemes, thereby perpetrating social security fraud and utilizing fraudulent employment practices. Statement 21 Mar 2024
ETF and ITF Urge EU Member States to Support Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and its international counterpart, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), today called on the permanent representations of EU Member States to strongly support the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) Directive during the Council vote. Press Release 15 Feb 2024