News February 2, 2023 Adoption of EP report on EWCs: Good news for millions of workers in transnational companies The European Trade Union Federations (ETUFs), EFBWW, EFFAT, EPSU, ETF, industriAll and Uni Europa, representing millions of workers and supporting over 20,000 European Works Council members every day, jointly welcome the adoption by the European Parliament of the own-initiative legislative report on the revision of the European Works Council Directive. It is time for the European Commission to act!
Press Release May 25, 2022 Frank Moreels and Livia Spera relected leaders of European Transport Workers’ Federation On the occasion of ETF’s 6th Ordinary Congress in Budapest, Frank Moreels and Livia Spera were elected President and General Secretary of the European Transport Workers’ Federation.
Statement May 12, 2022 Amazon has a European Works Council, despite management Yesterday, the Amazon management and employee representatives of different European countries agreed on the establishment of a European Works Council. This council, with workers and employer representatives, will be informed and consulted on transnational company issues.
Worker's Story March 31, 2021 “We are people – this is about livelihoods!” – FedEx-TNT workers in Germany speak out FedEx-TNT has announced plans to fire more than 6000 workers in Europe, despite record profits in 2020. Workers have had enough and are speaking out: today, we share stories by FedEx-TNT workers in Germany.
Press Release March 16, 2021 Workers demand FedEx negotiate just transition, instead of slashing its workforce FedEx shows no signs of stopping plans to slash up to 6,300 jobs in Europe and instead boasts about its multi-billion-dollar pledge to becoming climate-friendly.
News March 11, 2021 “Fair transport remains an objective, rather than a reality” – ETF brings together key stakeholders in discussion on sustainability To kick off Sustainable Transport Days, the ETF brought together key players in EU transport and beyond to reflect on the future of these industries.
Worker's Story February 25, 2021 “They’re pushing colleagues out in times of a global pandemic of which FedEx Group is one of the winners in terms of business” – TNT Worker in Germany speaks out FedEx-TNT has announced plans to fire more than 6000 workers in Europe, despite record profits in 2020. Workers have had enough and are speaking out: today, we share a story by a TNT worker in Germany.
Worker's Story February 18, 2021 “Announcement of redundancies during this busy time is crazy” – TNT customer service worker speaks out FedEx-TNT has announced plans to fire more than 6000 workers in Europe, despite record profits in 2020. Workers have had enough and are speaking out: today, we share a story by a TNT worker in Italy.
Press Release February 17, 2021 FedEx – Time to deliver for your workers! ETF and ITF, the voices of transport workers worldwide and in Europe have launched a petition to call on FedEx-TNT Europe management to stop job cuts and engage with workers’ representatives.
News February 2, 2021 #HoldBizAccountable: Workers demand accountability for rights violations Workers are joining the fight to #HoldBizAccountable. Make your voice heard and demand accountability for rights violations and environmental destruction!
Publication January 27, 2021 Managing the impact of Brexit on multinational companies Joint European Trade Union Federations’ Recommendations to EWC/SE Coordinators and worker representatives in SNBs, EWCs and SEs.
Statement January 26, 2021 ETF pledges solidarity to unions in their fight against FedEx decision to cut its European workforce by thousands FedEx has announced the decision to fire 6,300 employees in midst of booming e-commerce; the ETF joins all concerned workers and unions in their fight against these unfair and unacceptable redundancies.
News December 2, 2020 ETF affiliates commit to continued Europe-wide fight for fair transport Union responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and a strong recovery that puts social first were at the heart of discussions when ETF affiliates came together online last week.
News November 26, 2020 European trade unions call for more democracy at work The ETUC and ETUFs handed over a petition for more democracy at work to the European Commissioner Nicolas Schmit and MEPs, calling for concrete and rapid actions to guarantee the effective enforcement and compliance of workers’ rights to be informed, consulted and to participate in decision-making before any decision is adopted.
Statement October 26, 2020 Temporary arrangements for transnational meetings during the COVID-19 crisis – Joint European Trade Union Federations’ Recommendations ETF and other European Trade Union Federations have updated their Joint European Trade Union Federations’ Recommendations to EWC/SE Coordinators and worker representatives in SNBs, EWCs and SEs on temporary arrangements for transnational meetings during the COVID-19 crisis.
News October 16, 2020 Petition for More Democracy at Work! ETF and fellow ETUFs have joined the ETUC to launch a petition for more democracy at work!
Event October 8, 2020 Workers’ representatives meet to discuss rights to information and consultation in ongoing restructurings On 30 September and 1 October, ETUI, ETF and UNI Europa joined forces in a webinar on the topic of restructurings and the role of European Works Councils.
News October 7, 2020 New report exposes XPO’s anti-worker and anti-union practices ETF and ITF published a report exposing anti-worker and anti-union practices and called on XPO to enter into dialogue with workers’ representatives on the EU and global level.
News October 7, 2020 ‘ETF Talks’ launch on World Day for Decent Work: Trade Unions Build Back Better! In honour of World Day for Decent Work, the ETF has released its very first episode of ETF Talks: Conversations that Put Social First! This very first segment, Trade Unions Build Back Better!, focuses on the effects of COVID-19, the vital role of trade unions, the road to recovery, and what the future of transport could look like and what it will look like if workers are not an integral part of it all.
News September 10, 2020 Fair recovery: only if we reform transport policies! Taking the floor at a panel discussion at ETUC’s annual European Works Council conference, Livia Spera, General Secretary of European Transport Workers’ Federation denounced the many transport companies taking advantage of the crisis to lower working terms and conditions and disrespecting social dialogue and consultation rights at all levels.
News July 2, 2020 COVID-19: Swift action needed to enforce rights to worker involvement – Joint Letter by ETF, ETUC, ETUFs to Commissioner Schmit ETF, fellow ETUFs and the ETUC reiterate call on the Commission to undertake swift action to enforce workers’ rights to information, consultation and participation in order to best anticipate and manage the COVID-19 impact on jobs and workplaces.
Statement June 26, 2020 Worker involvement in managing the Covid-19 crisis – Joint Statement by ETF, fellow ETUFs and ETUC Workers are already facing the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis through massive restructuring in EU companies. ETF, fellow ETUFs and ETUC call on the European and national institutions to deliver concrete and rapid actions to guarantee the effective enforcement of workers’ rights to be informed, consulted and to participate in decision-making before any decision is adopted. Timely and quality social dialogue in the workplace is a necessary pillar to ensure a way out of this pandemic in a socially responsible manner.
News June 9, 2020 COVID-19: European unions call for a recognition award for UPS workers A group of unions representing workers at UPS around Europe urge the company to introduce recognition awards for workers and call for a meeting.
News April 10, 2020 COVID-19: Transport workers have a right to protective equipment! ETF prepared an overview of EU legislation that protects workers’ right to protective equipment in the workplace.
Union Action April 2, 2020 Union action in the time of COVID-19: Affiliate actions Our affiliates are hard at work defending workers’ rights! You can find their actions here!
Statement March 30, 2020 COVID-19: Anticipating and managing the impact in multinational companies – Joint European Trade Union Federations’ Recommendations In view of the COVID-19 health crisis, ETF, alongside 5 European Trade Union Federations, has issued Joint European Trade Union Federations’ Recommendations to EWC/SE Coordinators and worker representatives in SNBs, EWCs and SEs on Anticipating and managing the impact in multinational companies.
News March 9, 2020 COVID-19: ETF calls upon Commissioners Vălean and Schmit to devise a plan that protects transport workers! In view of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and its on impact transport workers, we sent a letter to Adina Vălean, Commissioner for Transport and Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights where we outlined our concerns, and what a plan to remedy the current situation should look like.
News March 5, 2020 Effective and ambitious legislation on due diligence is urgently needed The ETF calls for a European directive on mandatory human rights due diligence and responsible business conduct. Companies need to finally be held accountable for the impacts of their operations, without prejudice to joint and several liability. A European directive would bring us closer to stopping violations of human rights that continue to take place in multinational operations, and their supply and subcontracting chains.
Publication February 26, 2020 Final report | EWCs in Transport: more and better participation of workers now! A tailor-made manual for Transport Trade Unions in Europe on setting up EWCs in Transport companies.
Publication February 18, 2020 A new guide on European Works Councils An instrumental guide on EWC’s is the final outcome of a joint project of the EWC Deutsche Bahn AG and EWC Deutsche Post DHL Group called “EWC and the national and local level”.
Statement January 15, 2020 European minimum wage initiative – Consultation is underway! On 14 January, the European Commission launched First phase consultation of Social Partners on a possible action addressing the challenges related to fair minimum wages. While the ETF strongly believes that workers of Europe need a pay rise, we don’t support simplistic approaches and half-baked solutions that could endanger the autonomy of social partners around the continent. A simple prescriptive mechanism cannot solve wage stagnation – instead, we need to address the core causes of it, such as precarious work, anti-union measures, digitalisation, and austerity.
News December 16, 2019 Young transport workers in Europe survey Who are you, young transport workers in Europe? We are curious to know what you think about your work and the future of the sector. What are some of the main issues you face at work and are trade unions there to help you overcome them? How can we do better? Please fill in our short survey!
News November 25, 2019 Time’s Up for Violence Against Women! To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ETF’s Acting General Secretary, Livia Spera, has joined other women trade union leaders in signing a letter to the European Commission President-designate Ursula von der Leyen, and Equality Commissioner-designate, Helena Dalli, on their proposals to increase EU action against violence against women.
News November 19, 2019 World Toilet Day 2019: Toilet rights are a human right! The lack of accessible sanitation facilities and sufficient break times is an issue that heavily affects transport workers in all sectors. That’s why today of all days especially, the ETF calls for safe, decent and sufficient toilets and other sanitation facilities for all transport workers in Europe.
News October 31, 2019 A new prospect for XPO workers’ power in Europe – EWC established Massive step forward for XPO workers in Europe: Years of negotiations with XPO Logistics Europe management finally resulted in an agreement to establish a European Works Council (EWC).
Event October 24, 2019 ETF’s affiliates want more worker participation! Transport workers’ representatives gathered for the final conference of the ETF/Syndex project: “EWCs in transport: More and better participation now!”. Strengthening the EWC means strengthening trade unions.
News October 7, 2019 Why aren’t there more European Works Councils? An ETUI policy brief looking at answers to this question from a Belgian perspective
News September 20, 2019 Transport workers for climate justice ETF joins the Global Action Week for Climate and calls for climate justice for transport workers!
Event May 14, 2019 European Works Council Seminar in Paris explores corporate social responsibility Participants from all transport sectors gathered in Paris to discuss concrete examples of EWC work and explore the possibility that CSR reports could be a useful tool for EWCs.
Press Release May 9, 2019 ETF Appoints Livia Spera as Acting General Secretary Today our Executive Committee, meeting in London, approved the nomination of Livia Spera as Acting General Secretary. Livia was until now the Political Secretary for Dockers and Fisheries, and will take on the role immediately.
Statement March 29, 2019 ETF is moving forward! As we celebrate the success of our Fair Transport campaign, we are already at work creating the ETF of the future. A special conference gathered affiliates to set a course and explore new ways of working. Commitment was strong, and now it is time to build an even stronger federation for Europe’s transport workers!
News March 27, 2019 Thousands of workers block Brussels for Fair Transport Workers from every corner of Europe and every transport sector brought our campaign to a dizzying end. Thousands marched on the European Commission demanding decent work and the end of social dumping.
News March 26, 2019 Fair Transport action week: day four It’s the final day of actions around Europe, and many affiliates start their journey to Brussels. Meanwhile, our rally in Strasbourg attracts the support of MEPs.
Event March 26, 2019 Transport workers, trade unions and MEPs all together for a Fair Transport Our Fair Transport action week is for workers and policymakers all over Europe. But of course the European Parliament is a very special audience for us. That is why hundreds of transport workers from different countries were in Strasbourg today for a demonstration with trade unions and MEPs.
News March 25, 2019 Fair Transport action week: day three The third day of our action week saw workers demanding fair transport on boats, underground, at ports and at airports…
News March 24, 2019 Fair Transport action week: day two Day 2 of our international action week sees another impressive mix of actions, debate and personal stories – as ever more workers start the trip to Brussels for our demonstration on 27 March.
News March 23, 2019 Fair Transport action week: day one The first day of our Fair Transport action week is behind us and ETF affiliates have already taken part all over Europe. We are astonished at the support that we got in only 36 hours.
Event March 11, 2019 Trade unions organising Eurokai workers meet in Bremen A meeting to consolidate cooperation and evaluate the possibility of an EWC.
Event March 9, 2019 Aviation in the spotlight at European Works Council seminar in Madrid We’ve made a great start on our project ‘EWCs in Transport: more and better participation now!’. There are specific challenges in civil aviation companies when it comes to European Works’ Councils, but ETF affiliates showed interest in addressing a number of companies that meet the requirements for the creation of a new EWC.
News February 27, 2019 It’s time to take Fair Transport Europe to the next level! In just one month, thousands of workers will be converge on Brussels for a huge demo to mark the high point of our Fair Transport Europe campaign against social dumping. We will march through the city and raise our voice to demand that politicians and employers put an end to exploitation and unfair competition!
Event December 18, 2018 EWC Seminar in Rome for Road and Rail sectors Representatives from Railways and Road Sectors meet in Rome for a Seminar on EWC.
News October 5, 2017 ETF affiliates start the procedure for a Swissport EWC A letter signed by ETF affiliates was sent to Swissport for the creation of an SNB
News June 12, 2013 Trade unions participating in the annual ITF – UNI Global delivery meeting say “STOP!” to massive lay-offs in TNT Italy and around the world