News January 26, 2026 Protecting Seafarers and Fishers to Strengthen Safety: A Core Principle for Europe’s Maritime Future On 8 December 2025, the second edition of the European Maritime Safety Report – #EMSAFE was presented in EMSA’s: ‘Safety First’ conference at the Agency’s headquarters in Lisbon. EMSAFE 2 consolidates data from all EMSA-hosted databases, offering a comprehensive overview of the state of maritime safety in the European Union. Its strong focus on the human dimension of safety makes it particularly relevant.
News January 26, 2026 ETF Sends Letter to European Commissioner on Fisheries Control Regulation The European Transport Workers’ Federation has sent a formal letter to the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans raising urgent concerns about the implementation of the new Fisheries Control Regulation (EU) 2023/2842.
News January 23, 2026 Denmark sets record union coverage in road transport The Danish case demonstrates that high union coverage and fair competition can be restored through a combination of strong local organising and robust European regulation. While national contexts vary across the EU, Denmark’s success highlights the practical value of the Mobility Package when combined with strong implementation efforts to bring companies into the scope of collective bargaining.
News January 23, 2026 It’s time to get serious about cabin crew fatigue Fatigue among cabin crew is no longer a hidden issue. It is a widespread, systemic problem that is undermining safety, damaging health, and eroding the sustainability of aviation jobs. A new global survey of 114 cabin crew union representatives from 45 airlines, conducted by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), makes it clear: fatigue is a daily reality for cabin crew, and airlines are not taking it seriously enough.
Vacancies January 23, 2026 Vacancy at the ETF – Traineeship for Railways We are currently seeking to recruit a trainee for Railways. We are ready to offer a Belgian professional immersion contract and lunch vouchers of €8 per worked day. In line with our commitment to support public transport as part of our #FairTransport campaign, we also offer coverage of public transport for daily commuting depending on the travel frequency. A detailed job description is attached.
Statement January 19, 2026 “A sector in shock”: ETF demands action after tragic week for Spanish railways The European transport workers are in mourning following a devastating week for the Spanish railway sector. Within just 48 hours, two separate accidents have claimed lives and left dozens injured, raising urgent questions about infrastructure safety and the need for sustained investment. As the situation develops, the ETF is closely monitoring the investigations and remains in constant contact with our Spanish affiliates. We stand in total solidarity with the Spanish trade unions and fully support the actions they decide to take to ensure the safety and protection of railway workers and the public.
News January 13, 2026 European shipyards, maritime manufacturing and fisheries sectors call for immediate action to unlock energy transition Representatives of the European blue economy value chain met yesterday with Commissioner Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, to discuss the forthcoming Roadmap for the Energy Transition of Fisheries. The meeting brought together SEA Europe, Europêche, Copa-Cogeca, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the European Association of Fish Producers’ Organisations (EAPO), representing fishers and aquaculture producers, producers’ organisations, cooperatives, workers, shipyards and maritime equipment manufacturers.
News January 8, 2026 Italy: Lessons from organising and negotiating in supply chains Trade unionists from across Europe recently gathered in Rome for the ETF seminar “Organising and negotiating in Supply Chains: Building on the Experience of ETF Affiliates with Amazon”, supported by the European Workers’ Participation Fund (EWPF) of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI). The purpose was to understand how Italian unions managed to do what many elsewhere have struggled to achieve: normalise industrial relations with Amazon and extend collective bargaining across a supply chain.
News January 7, 2026 ETF Survey on Violence and Harassment Against Women Transport Workers To better understand the violent realities women transport workers face and to push for real change, the ETF Women’s Committee has launched a new survey: “Violence and harassment against women transport workers.” The aim is to collect testimonies directly from women working in all areas of the transport sector. Fill it in! It’s quick and available in 9 languages!
Statement January 6, 2026 End the race to the bottom: ETF and EFFAT call for urgent action in the food delivery sector Following a high-level coordination meeting of affiliated trade unions representing riders across Europe, the two federations released a joint declaration calling on EU institutions and national governments to step in and end widespread social dumping and worker exploitation.
Opportunity to Tender December 11, 2025 CALL FOR EXTERNAL EXPERTISE : WTMS – Working Together Much Safer EU-Funded Project
Press Release December 10, 2025 ETF Conference maps common strategies for public transport’s Just Transition The ETF convened a major two-day networking event in Brussels (9-10 December) that successfully brought together a wide array of stakeholders in the public transport sector. This event allowed us to map convergences and common goals, opening the way for future alliances to improve public transport in Europe. Participants included representatives from public transport unions, green campaigners, passenger groups, disabled rights activists, employers, and policymakers, including MEP Lena Schilling, coming from all over Europe.