ETF Maritime team issues an open letter on World Maritime Day, calling on the EU to be the leading force in working towards true sustainability, in promoting high social and environmental standards, and reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.

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.

ETF, Europeche and Cogeca addressed a letter to the relevant authorities of Senegal and Ivory Coast to ask for their cooperation and support in facilitating the repatriation of fishermen stranded in West Africa.

ETF joins the ETUC in calling on the EU Council to speed up payment of EU emergency support for health and protecting incomes and jobs and agree on an EU Jobs Recovery Plan for massive investment & solidarity. For the transport industry, a recovery plan should not be back-to-business-as-before – a policy shift must accompany it!

Social partners welcome positive steps towards much-needed support to fishermen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We call upon the Member States to fully implement these extraordinary measures to compensate and relieve operators and workers.

While some action has been taken by the European Commission to address the issues related to COVID-19, much more is required to ensure the safety and wellbeing of transport workers. ETF responds to this situation with a letter to Commissioner Vălean.