Press Release April 22, 2026 ETF Launches #SaveRailFreight Campaign at Brussels Conference The ETF is calling for a fundamental reorientation of EU rail policy away from a decade-long focus on liberalisation and market competition that has not delivered and towards a model grounded in public interest, industrial resilience and long-term sustainability. The ETF also insists that growth in rail freight must go hand in hand with strong commitments on workers’ rights: high health and safety standards, recognised qualifications, guaranteed access to basic facilities, and tamper-proof monitoring of driving, working and rest times for all mobile staff.
News April 22, 2026 Flying through a fragmented world Aircrew today do not simply fly across the world; they fly into it. Escalating geopolitical tensions, fragmented airspace, and rapidly shifting threat environments have fundamentally reshaped what it means to operate a flight. From the outside, geopolitical risk can appear abstract – a line on a map, an overflight restriction, a rerouting decision made by operations or security departments. For cabin crew, however, exposure is far more immediate and tangible.
News April 22, 2026 Civil society coalition calls for urgent Investment in Public Transport to tackle the oil crisis As oil prices surge in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East, creating what the International Energy Agency (IEA) describes as the largest energy shock in history, a coalition of 17 European organisations has issued a joint call on policymakers to urgently act on IEA Recommendation 3: incentivising a shift from private cars to public transport and active mobility.
Statement April 17, 2026 World Public Transport Day: Public transport workers move us all Trade unions give public transport workers a collective voice to defend and win their rights in their workplaces all around the world. Recognising and bargaining with trade unions, and involving them in decision-making from the outset, is critical to ensuring an understanding of and mutually beneficial collaboration with the public transport workforce. And by fighting for better working conditions, trade unions also play a critical role in employee retention for public transport companies
News April 13, 2026 Europe’s military mobility push must not sideline workers’ rights Europe is strengthening its defence capabilities through the EU’s Military Mobility Package, designed to enable the swift movement of troops and equipment across borders in times of crisis. While the objective of improving preparedness is legitimate, it must be pursued in full respect of fundamental rights, social standards, and democratic governance.
News April 13, 2026 Fuel crisis puts european fishers’ livelihoods at risk: ETF calls for urgent EU intervention The European fishing sector is once again plunging into a state of emergency. A rapid and dramatic surge in fuel prices, triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, is threatening to paralyze the EU fishing fleet and, more importantly, the workers who keep it running. This is not just an economic hurdle for vessel owners; it is a direct threat to the wages, safety, and job security of thousands of fishers across Europe.
News April 9, 2026 No more crisis management at workers’ expense: European aviation must break the cycle The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) released a statement today, calling on airlines, governments and European institutions to end a recurring and damaging pattern in times of crisis: prioritising short-term fixes at the expense of workers, resilience, and long-term recovery of the sector.
News April 8, 2026 ETF stands with railway workers after fatal TGV accident The European Transport Workers’ Federation expresses its deep sadness following the tragic accident yesterday morning involving a TGV train and a truck carrying military equipment near Bully-les-Mines, between Lens and Béthune.
News Interview: Gerhard Tauchner elected new Chair of ETF Railways section The ETF Railways Section just elected its new Chair, Gerhard Tauchner, to replace Giorgio Tuti, who has been elected as ETF President. In a powerful moment, trade union members thanked the previous Chair for his important work and elected new leadership to defend the future of railway workers at the European level. We decided to interview the new Chair to understand his priorities for the following years.
Statement ETF calls for strong worker protections as Commission launches new Military Mobility initiative A first read of the Commission’s Communication shows that it fails to mention workers even once. It also ignores the persistent problem of labour shortages and how to address them, as well as the well-known deterioration in working conditions in the sector. Disregarding such fundamental issues is a serious threat to the success of this proposal for military mobility. If we can’t attract workers in times of peace, how can we expect to do so in times of war?
News 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!
News Giorgio Tuti Elected New ETF President Belgian trade union leader Frank Moreels stepped down from his function of ETF President, in view of his upcoming role as President of the ITF. A Swiss national, Giorgio Tuti has been a high-profile unionist in the trade union movement since 1988. He served as President of the Swiss Transport Workers’ Union (SEV) for 14 years, from 2009 to 2023 and has been Vice-Chair of the Swiss Trade Union Confederation since 2009. Tuti has been chairing the ETF Railways Section since 2017.