Statement February 20, 2024 ETF and ITF in solidarity with strikes of Lufthansa employees for a fair collective agreement Livia Spera, General Secretary of the ETF, stated, “While airlines like Lufthansa rake in record profits, the ground staff who ensure their smooth operation are treated with disdain and offered wage increases that fail to keep pace with inflation. This is not just an injustice to these hardworking individuals but a threat to the entire industry’s struggle with worker shortages. We stand in solidarity with Ver.di and urge Lufthansa and other employers to engage in meaningful negotiations that deliver fair wages and decent working conditions that keep the sector attractive to workers.”
Press Release February 19, 2024 ETF Raises Concerns Over Changes to EU Driving License Rules In view of the European Parliament’s upcoming debate and vote on changes to driving license rules in the EU, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) voices its concerns regarding the proposed reduction in the minimum age for truck and bus licenses. Last December, the TRAN Committee backed the Commission’s proposal to issue truck driving licenses to 17-year-olds, under the accompanied driving license scheme. At the same time, the reduction in the recommended minimum age for truck driving to 18 across the EU poses a further threat to road safety, as it will cause more Member States to follow suit.
Statement February 19, 2024 The Red Sea crisis and the attacks on commercial vessels The ETF is calling once more for the safety of seafarers to be paramount. All the disruption on the supply chain, the skyrocketing of the shipping prices and the insurance coverage together with the overall impact in the economy are very serious consequences, but are only secondary commercial considerations in comparison with the risk posed for the safety of seafarers.
Statement February 16, 2024 800 days later, Member States Slam Door Shut on Platform Work Directive The failure of member states has dashed hopes that an EU directive would help end bogus self-employment and give platform workers employment contracts. The aim of the directive to improve the working conditions of platform workers by correct employment classification has failed. Millions of precarious platform workers with little or no rights will remain at the mercy of unscrupulous platforms.
Press Release February 15, 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.
News February 14, 2024 EU Elections: ETF Sectoral Manifestos Launched Building on the groundswell of support for our comprehensive “A New Deal for Fair Transport” manifesto, we are proud to announce the launch of sectoral manifestos dedicated to Aviation, Logistics, Dockers & Seafarers, and Railways. These focused documents delve deeper into the specific challenges and demands of each sector, solidifying our unwavering commitment to securing fair treatment and decent jobs for all transport workers across Europe.
News February 8, 2024 DHL Logistics Workers In Turkey Benefit From Significant Agreement The agreement achieved by the ETF affiliate will mean wage increases of between 73% and 85%, and an increase in the number of bonuses the workers get, with unionised workers now having the right to four bonuses per year for the first time in the largely unorganised logistics sector in Turkey.
Statement February 7, 2024 ETF Manifesto launched in more languages: German, Italian, French and Spanish Ahead of the 2024 European Elections, the ETF now launches its Manifesto “A New Deal for Fair Transport” in more languages. This comprehensive manifesto, that outlines a series of critical demands of European transport workers, is now available in German, Italian, French and Spanish! This manifesto is a call to action to all candidates for the EU election and European political parties to commit to these demands, advocating for a fair and just Europe that places transport workers at the forefront of its policies.
News February 6, 2024 Finland: Political Strikes in Demand for Government Dialogue Last week, Finland witnessed a significant moment in its labour movement history as thousands of workers took to the streets in a powerful demonstration against proposed government cuts. On February 1 and 2, the Finnish capital, Helsinki, became the epicentre of a massive mobilisation led by the trade union confederations SAK and STTK under the banner “STOP Now!” This nationwide protest was a direct response to the right-wing government’s plans to implement cuts in working life policies and social security, sparking widespread concern among the workforce.
News February 1, 2024 Ensuring Wi-Fi Rights for migrant workers on Taiwan’s Fishing Vessels In a recent initiative highlighting the global nature of the fisheries sector, European social partners have turned their focus towards Taiwan, particularly due to the significant employment of Asian migrant fishers on Taiwanese-owned vessels. These workers face distressing labour abuses, especially within Taiwan’s extensive distant water fleet, which operates far from the country’s shores.
News January 22, 2024 “Green Deal, Our Deal?” ETF’s Conference Highlights Urgent Need for Policy Reform in Transport Sector In her opening remarks, ETF General Secretary Livia Spera emphasised the urgent need for European and national transport policies to become more coherent and worker-centric. “Without immediate action,” Spera warned, “Europe risks facing a severe shortage of personnel to operate our trains, buses, trams, and trucks.”
News January 17, 2024 European Parliament Votes in Favor of a Comprehensive European Port Strategy The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), a keen observer and active participant in the formulation of this strategy, has played a crucial role in influencing the report’s final content. Initially, the draft report had a glaring omission – it failed to address the workforce, a critical component of the port ecosystem.