News November 10, 2020 ETF calls for release of jailed Sicilian fishers in Libya While fishing for red prawns, 18 fishers from Sicily were detained by the Libyan Coast Guard on 1 September. The ETF addressed a letter to European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries today, calling on them to take action and facilitate an immediate and unconditional release of these fishers.
Statement November 9, 2020 Digitalisation & Automation: Passau Declaration on Smart Mobility excludes transport workers and just transition The Declaration promotes the benefits that automation and digitalisation can bring to European transport but leaves out those who will be directly impacted by the implementation of these new technologies: the millions of transport workers that move Europe forward. ETF has written to the Council of the EU, EFTA Secretariat, German Presidency, Permanent Representations of EU Member States to express concerns
News November 9, 2020 EU must not abandon seafarers – whatever the flag under which they sail and whatever their nationality To alert EU Commissioners to the continuing crisis onboard ships and the urgent need for member states to act, ETF addressed a letter to Commissioners Vălean, Schmit and Johansson. Flag states must ensure the repatriation of seafarers stranded at sea. It is not generosity, but an obligation under maritime law.
Statement November 9, 2020 TUI fly Germany proceeds with plans to dismiss workers after receiving state aid TUI fly Germany is implementing its restructuring plans that will leave many workers in Germany jobless, despite receiving state aid. The ETF is joining Ver.di in their call for social conditionality in state aid – companies should not be allowed to use crises to restructure, dismiss workers and worsen their working conditions.
Statement November 9, 2020 ETF welcomes US election outcome as positive win for workers This important win for America’s labour movement will certainly bring about stronger ties between trade unions in Europe and the US. They can count on us for support. We may be far apart, but our trade union values and our fight are one and the same.
News November 6, 2020 Draft guidance on social responsibility in fish value chains delayed after pushback ETF, Europeche, and LDAC addressed a letter to FAO, urging the organisation to continue with the process of creating guidance on social responsibility in fish value chains.
Union Action November 5, 2020 “We won’t let Wizz Air jeopardise Norwegian working life model!” – unions protest in Norway as Wizz Air begins its operations Wizz Air is launching domestic flights in Norway today. In response, Parat’s pilot and cabin crew unions organised awareness-raising actions, with one clear message: Wizz Air must respect Norwegian law and the workers’ right to organise.
Press Release November 5, 2020 Without fishers, there’s no fishing At a plenary meeting, the EU Social Partners in the Fisheries Sector – Europêche, Cogeca and ETF – welcomed the presentation of the parliamentary draft report “Fishers for the future: Attracting a new generation of labour to the fishing industry and generating employment in coastal communities” of the MEP Manuel Pizarro. While acknowledging the report as an important step in the right direction, social partners call on the policy-makers to recognize the key social dimension of fishing, thus improving the health and safety of fishers and attracting youth to the sector.
Statement November 4, 2020 Enough is enough: End the Gender Pay Gap! Based on a recent ETF survey of around 3,000 women transport workers from across Europe, nearly one in three think that they have fewer opportunities to advance in their current workplace than their male colleagues. The survey report points to unequal treatment between men and women as one of the main reasons for the low 22% female make-up of the sector. Enough is enough. On (Un)Equal Pay Day, ETF calls for an end to the gender pay gap.
News October 30, 2020 Joint Statement by the European social partners in Civil Aviation on payroll support schemes for aviation in response to the Covid-19 pandemic European civil aviation social partners urge EU member states to extend payroll support schemes to protect jobs and employment.
Statement October 29, 2020 Open letter to EU: ‘Show you care – Keep facilities open in parking areas for professional drivers!’ The ETF has addressed an open letter to EU member states on behalf of trade union member organisations representing professional drivers; calling on on national authorities across Europe to keep restaurants, cafes and sanitary facilities open in parking areas. The well-being of our drivers depends on it!
Statement October 29, 2020 ETF & Vera Tax call on European Commission to mainstream a gender-responsive approach into EU transport policies On the heels of yesterday’s report on How to Make Transport Fit for Women to Work in which revealed an alarming gender divide in the transport industry, comes a joint call by ETF and MEP Vera Tax call on Commissioner Vălean and Commissioner Dalli to mainstream a gender-responsive approach into EU transport policies. A debate on Women in Transport in the framework of the first European Gender Equality Week at the European Parliament, will take place today and tackle the underlying issues that lead to an underrepresentation of women in the transport sector.