Statement March 12, 2024 Platform Directive: A Win For Platform Workers and Their Unions Overall, this directive will help improve the situation of platform workers by giving them easier access to their employment rights. While it does not go as far as we would have liked but it is a very valuable tool for platforms and unions to take action at national level. For the first time ever, it provides better data privacy and regulation of algorithmic management.
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 December 13, 2023 ETF Welcomes Platform Work Directive with a Call for Vigilant Enforcement The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) is cautiously optimistic about the provisional agreement on the Platform Work Directive, marking a potentially pivotal moment in the fight for the rights of millions of gig economy workers. In solidarity with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), ETF welcome what we hope will be a major advancement in correcting the long-standing misclassification of platform workers. However, we still need see the final text once agreed by all parties.
News June 13, 2023 Council breakthrough, an important step forward in the process, but text weakens worker’s hand Once the mandate of the Council of the European Union on the platform work directive has been agreed upon, the trilogue negotiations between Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament on Platform Work Directive can start. ETF has very strong reservations about the Council’s position and believes the strong presumption of employment contained in the EP text is the best way to ensure that workers are classified correctly to get access to their employment, social and pension rights.
Press Release June 9, 2023 ‘Governments must seize this moment’: Critical juncture for EU Platform Work Directive It’s time for the Council of the EU to agree on a mandate on the Platform Work Directive that will protect the employment rights of millions of app-based transport workers, including ride-hail drivers and food delivery riders! ETF, ITF and their affiliates are calling on the Council to hammer out a deal so that trilogue negotiations with the European Commission, Council and Parliament can finally begin.
Projects January 30, 2023 SOCIALAND - Trade Unions Address Social Challenges in European Land Transport This EU-funded project adresses sector-specific challenges in rail, road, urban public transport and platform economy.
Statement July 11, 2022 Uber files highlights the importance of protecting workers from unethical platform companies ETF is very concerned about Uber’s illegal and unethical practices, as revealed by the Guardian via the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). It is outrageous to have undeniable proof of a company’s executives acknowledging their law-breaking explicitly in internal communications. Uber’s behaviour has a direct negative effect on the health and safety, and working conditions of drivers.
News June 8, 2022 Transport unions for fair platform work As one of the fastest growing business models, most common in delivery and ride hailing in transport, platform work took centre stage at a dedicated session at ETF’s 6th Congress.
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.
News December 23, 2021 The European Commission’s Platform Proposal: a step forward for workers in the platform economy? Frank Moreels, ETF President spoke at the ITF’s Gig Economy Conference on 14 December where he outlined the significance of the new ‘EU Platform directive’
Press Release December 8, 2021 EU takes long-overdue first step towards fair platform work Early signals indicate that tomorrow’s European Commission proposal on the platform work will in part make good on their promise to improve the working conditions of platform workers. ETF reacts…
News September 16, 2021 Dutch union FNV’s win against Uber yet another sign that EU law must confirm platform workers are employees The European Commission must take Dutch trade union FNV’s recent win against Uber as a hint and make it clear in the upcoming EU law on platform work that platform workers are employees.
News September 16, 2021 European Mobility Week: Are our cities’ urban mobility workers staying healthy? “Stay healthy.”: Easier said than done for Europe’s urban mobility workers. ETF breaks down the whys and takes us through how local authorities, public transport companies, ride-hailing and delivery platforms can better ensure the health and safety of their workers.
News April 30, 2021 European Parliament TRAN Committee opinion fails to take a stance on platform work The Transport (TRAN) Committee of the European Parliament adopted on 20 April its opinion on ‘fair working conditions, rights and social protection for platform workers’. Although it includes several constructive demands, it fails to condemn bogus self-employment and third employment status explicitly.
Press Release March 25, 2021 ETF manifesto proves fair platform work is possible if we stop allowing platforms to have their cake and eat it too! The ETF proves that fair platform work is possible in its six-step manifesto. Fulfilling this vision requires platform companies to assume their responsibilities as employers and finally admit their workers are employees. Meaning they must adhere to regulations in place and ending their business model based on bogus self-employment and circumvention of labour and fiscal laws.
News February 4, 2021 3F secures ground-breaking national sectoral agreement for delivery riders Danish trade union 3F and the employers’ organisation Dansk Erhverv reached a national sectoral agreement covering Just Eat’s Riders. But this victory is only the beginning: ‘3F and the European trade union movement will not stop fighting for platform workers’ rights!’
Statement February 3, 2021 Deliveroo must act after another rider killed on the job Romulo Sta Ana, a Filipino father of two, is the latest food delivery rider to be killed on the job. The ITF and ETF offer our condolences to the family of Romulo Sta Ana and call on digital labour platforms to be regulated to put an end to the disastrous race-to-the-bottom that has harmed far too many workers already.
Issues February 2, 2021 Protecting the workers behind online platforms Platform work is challenging existing labour laws and regulations protecting workers. In this new setting, the ETF and its affiliates are fighting to ensure fair working conditions and employee status for platform workers.
News September 25, 2020 ETF’s take on the Digital Services Act: ‘Platform work requires more attention!’ As part of the European Digital Strategy, the European Commission is currently working on the new Digital Services Act. The ETF replied to the consultation, but firmly states that the issue of platform work requires more attention and a specific focus rather than being added to a consultation on another topic.
News June 26, 2019 Is disruption the route to better transport services? Joining a debate at the European Liberal Forum, our Acting General Secretary argued that not all disruption in the transport sector brings a better service to users. What’s more, we cannot only think of people as consumers. If new models offload social costs of work onto the taxpayer, or force wages down to unsustainable levels, who really benefits?
News June 26, 2019 Viva la solidarietà! Italian unions launch joint platform for decent work in transport The Italian government has not been speaking to transport workers or their unions. So today they will launch a joint platform for decent work in transport and then announce a massive mobilisation across the sector, under the slogan “Let’s get the country moving again!”
News December 20, 2017 Uber is a transport company – ECJ backs professional drivers Today’s ruling is a real victory for professional drivers across Europe – whether they work for Uber or more traditional companies.