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12 November 2008
Rail workers march to stop plans for EU-wide rail break-up
Thousands of rail workers will protest in Paris tomorrow against continuing European Union plans to force governments and railway companies to split up national railways in the latest stage of a relentless ideological campaign to restructure and privatise them. They will gather from across Europe to take part in a demonstration called by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) against EU plans that could lead to the complete fragmentation of the continent’s railways. more >>

23 October 2008
European Seafarers are an endangered species: Socialist MEPs and Commissionaire Tajani set off the alarm bell and urged a change in the current attitude towards the negative social records in shipping
This was the main conclusion of a high level group of EU politicians, including Commission Vice-President responsible for Transport, Antonio Tajani who met on 16 October 2008 at the European Parliament to discuss how to reinforce the social dimension of the EU maritime policy and promote more and better jobs at sea. This public seminar, held under the auspices of the Party of European Socialists and chaired by MEPs Gilles Savary and Emanuel Jardim Fernandes is part of a long-term campaign by the ETF, and its affiliated unions for improving social and working conditions for EU seafarers and safeguarding jobs at sea. As from the opening speech by Dutch MEP Jon Cremer, the Socialist group expressed its full support to the above-mentioned campaign. more >>

15 October 2008
More than 1200 seafarers across Europe this week took to the streets of Brussels to call for more and better jobs at sea
The demonstration, which took place in Brussels on 14 October, aimed to lobby European decision-makers for an increase in employment for European seafarers and a set of standard conditions and against the replacement of crew with cheap labour. The seafarers’ demonstration was part of a long-term campaign by the ETF, and its affiliated unions for a fundamental review of the employment conditions of those working in the European Union (EU) maritime sector. more >>

10 October 2008
ETF Statement: European Parliament votes in favour of the inclusion of self-employed drivers
Yesterday, the European Parliament voted in favour of the inclusion of self-employed drivers within the scope of Directive 2002/15/EC on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities. more >>

14 August 2008
ITF and ETF appeal for contributions for Georgia/South Ossetia conflict victims
The ETF and ITF are urging affiliated unions to support a fund to assist victims of the conflict between Russia and Georgia in and around South Ossetia. more >>

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