News December 2, 2025 ITF urges Dutch Court to uphold collective bargaining principles across Europe The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), together with Nautilus NL and FNV, has submitted a formal request to the Court of Appeal in the Netherlands to reconsider and correct key preliminary considerations in its recent interim ruling concerning the Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause (NSWC).
News December 2, 2025 Interview: Gerhard Tauchner elected new Chair of ETF Railways section The ETF Railways Section just elected its new Chair, Gerhard Tauchner, to replace Giorgio Tuti, who has been elected as ETF President. In a powerful moment, trade union members thanked the previous Chair for his important work and elected new leadership to defend the future of railway workers at the European level. We decided to interview the new Chair to understand his priorities for the following years.
News November 28, 2025 4th Seminar on Inland Waterway Transport in the Danube Region On 17–18 November 2024, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) hosted the fourth and final seminar of the inland waterways pillar of the EU-funded project Delivering Fair Transport for All. As with the previous seminars, this session focused entirely on the Danube region. The first day featured a productive exchange with the Danube Commission on strengthening the involvement of the ETF and its affiliates in the work of this intergovernmental organisation established by the Belgrade Convention of 1948.
Statement November 27, 2025 Far-right alliance on Omnibus: A dangerous setback for EU social and environmental commitments Just four weeks after celebrating the European Parliament’s rejection of the initial mandate for negotiations on Omnibus I, we now face a serious blow. The European Parliament has adopted a position that will significantly weaken key EU sustainability legislation.
News November 27, 2025 ETF joins Belgian roadside inspection, highlighting the urgent need for better cargo securing On Monday, ETF took part in a Belgian roadside inspection dedicated to cargo securing and exceptional vehicle cargo. The latter refers to trucks transporting loads that exceed standard weight or dimensions and often involves obtaining necessary exemptions and permits. The inspection took place in Bertem, at a truck stop near the highway. A significant number of trucks on the Belgian roads still transport unsecured or poorly secured cargo, posing serious dangers to both drivers and other road users.
Statement November 19, 2025 ETF calls for strong worker protections as Commission launches new Military Mobility initiative A first read of the Commission’s Communication shows that it fails to mention workers even once. It also ignores the persistent problem of labour shortages and how to address them, as well as the well-known deterioration in working conditions in the sector. Disregarding such fundamental issues is a serious threat to the success of this proposal for military mobility. If we can’t attract workers in times of peace, how can we expect to do so in times of war?
News November 18, 2025 Aviation workers: make your experience heard! Are you a pilot, cabin crew and dispatcher/flight operations/OCC member? EASA – the European Aviation Safety Agency – wants to hear from YOU. For the first time every, EASA is surveying workers directly, with the goal to better understand how socio-economic factors and working conditions impact flight safety.
News November 18, 2025 Migrant Fishers to be Protected During Recruitment Under Landmark ILO Guidelines ITF and ETF demand action from governments and industry to ensure “crucial step forward” for fishers: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) welcome the adoption of the new ‘Guidelines for Fair Labour Market Services for Migrant Fishers’ by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva last week, calling the move a “crucial step forward” for the protection of migrant fishers worldwide.
News November 18, 2025 Social Partners Call for Socio-Economic Accompanying Measures in the Fishing Opportunities Regulation Social partners ask Commissioner Kadis for socio-economic accompanying measures to be added to the Fishing Opportunities Regulation. They argue that sustainability must include fair working and living conditions for fishers, supported through targeted compensations for training, safety, and better onboard standards.
News November 12, 2025 ETF strengthens cross-border coordination with new restructuring guidelines The ETF has published new guidelines to support unions and workers’ representatives during transnational company restructurings, providing practical tools and clear procedures for coordination and action when jobs and working conditions are at risk. In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, restructuring has become a routine feature of company strategy – often involving multiple countries and various forms.
News November 12, 2025 ETF reaction: “Connecting Europe through High-Speed Rail” The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) takes note of the European Commission’s Communication “Connecting Europe through High-Speed Rail”. ETF welcomes the renewed political attention to Europe’s rail network and the Commission’s emphasis on better coordination across borders. Strong, publicly led coordination is exactly what is needed to plan, fund, and operate a truly connected European rail system.
News November 10, 2025 Union win: “integration” of railway units is off the table The Polish Ministry of Infrastructure officially suspended plans to close down six railway plants through the integration of Railway Plants. The proposed measures have sparked outrage of unions and workers, as they would have threatened the liquidation of local railway maintenance plants, job losses, and a decline in the safety and efficiency of Poland’s railway network, if put in place.